Green Olive, Green Daikon & Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

In the Cantonese food-therapy tradition, green olives have long been respected for their ability to benefit the throat and generate fluids. A famous classical formula called “Green Dragon White Tiger Soup” (qing long bai hu tang) uses green olive and white daikon to clear throat inflammation and support the body during flu season. Green daikon — though less commonly seen in Western markets than white daikon — is considered even more effective for the throat than its white counterpart, and it also traditionally neutralizes harmful gases, making it particularly valued by cooks and people who spend long hours around stove fumes.

This soup is clear, slightly sweet-savory, and genuinely pleasant to drink. It is one of the go-to household remedies in Cantonese families for any time someone has a scratchy, irritated, or overworked throat.