Hand Orchid Tuber (Handra), Lily Bulb and Red Date Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

Hand orchid tuber (fo shou shen) is an unusual find — a small, hand-shaped root with finger-like lobes splayed out, quite unlike anything commonly stocked at a typical herb shop. This orchid family tuber, harvested from the highlands of Ningxia and Qinghai provinces, has been used in Chinese herbal tradition to nourish the body, support lung function, and calm frayed nerves. Paired with lily bulb — one of the most classic lung-soothing ingredients in Cantonese soup — and sweet red dates, the result is a gentle, pleasant-tasting brew that anyone with a chronic cough or tired constitution might appreciate.