Fritillary Bulb, Ophiopogon and Snow Pear Soup

Why people make this soup

Many people find that after a cold is mostly over, the cough lingers — sometimes for weeks. The throat feels dry and scratchy, sleep is disrupted by coughing fits, and ordinary cough syrups only get you so far. In Cantonese food therapy, this pattern is recognised as a combination of residual lung heat and insufficient lung moisture (yin deficiency). Fritillary bulb and ophiopogon root together are among the most classic tools for this exact situation.

This three-ingredient soup (with pear) is one of Nourilo’s most-recommended home remedies because it is gentle, genuinely pleasant to drink, and appropriate for the whole family.

Method

1. Rinse the fritillary bulb and ophiopogon root.
2. Wash the snow pears, remove the cores, and cut into chunks. There is no need to peel.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for about 1 hour until approximately 2 cups remain.
5. If using rock candy, add it in the last few minutes and stir until dissolved.
6. Drink the soup warm and eat the pear pieces.

Nourilo’s Tips

Pearl fritillary is the preferred variety — milder and less bitter than regular chuan bei mu, making it much more palatable, especially for children. It is more expensive but worth it for compliance. If you want a stronger effect, lightly crush or grind the fritillary into powder — the medicinal compounds are released more readily this way. The soup can also be made with apple instead of pear for variety. For children who are not keen on drinking soup, the pear pieces themselves can be given to eat.