Soups
Green Olive, Dragon Tongue Leaf, Luo Han Guo and Palm Fruit Soup
Traditionally used to clear heat, soothe a dry throat, and support the voice
Why people make this soup
Teachers, singers, telemarketers — anyone who uses their voice for long stretches — know that sore, dry feeling that creeps in after a particularly demanding day of talking. During cool, dry autumn weather, this kind of throat discomfort is especially common. This soup is one of Bro Niu’s dependable recommendations: green olives are used whole (and bruised with a cleaver to help release their active compounds), combined with fresh dragon tongue leaf, luo han guo, and sweet almonds. The resulting soup is naturally sweet and free of that heavy herbal flavour that puts many people off medicinal soups. Lean pork can be added for a heartier, more savoury version — perfectly suited to everyday family cooking.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family; suitable for adults and children alike
- Particularly helpful for those with voice strain, dry scratchy throat, or a lingering cough triggered by throat dryness during dry weather
- Can be used as a preventive brew during dry seasons for those who regularly use their voice
- No major cautions for healthy individuals; suitable for lean pork addition to make it a proper meal soup
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green olives (qing lan): Widely used in Cantonese throat remedies; the olive’s bitterness and astringency are associated with clearing throat heat, reducing inflammation, and opening the voice; bruising before cooking helps extract the active compounds
- Dragon tongue leaf (long li ye): A broad, tropical-looking leaf used in Cantonese folk medicine to clear lung heat, clear phlegm, and stop cough; the fresh leaf has a stronger effect than dried
- Luo han guo (monk fruit): Naturally very sweet; associated with clearing lung heat, moistening the throat, stopping cough, and easing constipation; a classic sore throat ingredient
- Southern and northern sweet almonds (nan bei xing): Soften phlegm and moisten the lungs; a standard pairing with most Cantonese throat and respiratory soups
- Palm fruit (棕榈果): Sometimes sold as “fresh sea coconut” (though not true sea coconut); traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, clearing phlegm, and stopping cough; the skin has a stronger phlegm-clearing effect, so it is best to use the fruit with skin on
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green olives (qing lan) | 10 pieces | Use the back of a cleaver to bruise each olive slightly |
| Fresh dragon tongue leaf | 38 g (1 liang) | Rinse; can substitute dried if fresh unavailable |
| Luo han guo | Half a fruit | Break apart; both shell and flesh are used |
| Southern and northern sweet almonds | 38 g (1 liang) | Rinse |
| Palm fruit (棕榈果) | 3 pieces | Cut open; keep the skin |
| Water | 6 bowls (~1.2 L) | Reduce to 4 bowls |
Method
- Rinse all ingredients.
- Use the flat of a cleaver or a heavy object to gently bruise each green olive — this helps flavour and active compounds release during cooking.
- Cut the palm fruit open; keep the skin attached.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for about 1 hour 30 minutes, until the liquid reduces to roughly 4 bowls.
- Drink the soup; the whole family can share.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup has a pleasant, naturally sweet taste with no bitter herbal notes. Lean pork can be added to make it a more substantial family soup. The recipe is suitable for the entire household, from children to elders, and is particularly useful during dry autumn and winter months for anyone prone to throat dryness or occasional hoarseness.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (nikylo, 2017): My daughter is 2 years old and has had a hoarse voice for over 6 months. I plan to take her to the doctor. Can I also make soups to help? Bro Niu: A child’s vocal cords are still very delicate, and repeated loud crying and shouting can cause damage over time. Try to gently encourage her not to shout or cry at full volume, and soothe her promptly. This green olive soup will help a little — have it twice a week. For a simpler option, try luo han guo (one-sixth of a fruit), ophiopogon root (one tablespoon), and rush pith grass (6 bundles) simmered in 3 bowls of water for 15 minutes — this clears heart heat and may also ease fussiness, to be taken every other day.
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Q (Ka, 2018): My daughter is just 2 years old and often shrieks and cries loudly. Her voice has gone hoarse over the past two days. Can she drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, you can make this soup for her. But the more important thing is to find out why she is crying and screaming — if there is heart-liver fire, you can also prepare a soup of lotus seeds with core, lily bulb, and rush pith grass to calm her.
Published October 26, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
