Soups
Hand Orchid Tuber (Handra), Lily Bulb and Red Date Sweet Soup
Traditionally associated with nourishing the lungs, calming the mind, and supporting recovery from persistent cough
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.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Well suited for those with a weak constitution, persistent dry cough, mild shortness of breath, or difficulty sleeping
- Also suitable for those recovering from illness, or people who feel chronically fatigued or mentally depleted
- If you cannot find hand orchid tuber, Prince’s ginseng (tai zi shen) or Codonopsis (dang shen) can substitute
- Not suitable during an active fever or acute cold with thick yellow phlegm — address the acute condition first, then use this soup for recovery
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hand orchid tuber (fo shou shen / shou zhang shen): A mildly sweet orchid family tuber; traditionally used to tonify the lungs and kidneys, calm the nervous system, and support recovery from chronic fatigue and prolonged cough
- Dried lily bulb (bai he / Lilium lancifolium): One of the most widely used lung-nourishing herbs in Cantonese food therapy; traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, calming the heart, and easing restlessness or insomnia
- Red dates (hong zao): Gently tonifying for the blood and digestive system; adds natural sweetness and warmth
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Softens the flavour and adds mild moistening qualities
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hand orchid tuber (fo shou shen) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse before use; can substitute tai zi shen |
| Dried lily bulb (bai he) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 8 pieces | Can remove pits if preferred |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | to taste | Add near the end of cooking |
| Water | 5 bowls | Reduces to about 2 bowls |
Method
- Rinse all the ingredients. Soak the lily bulb briefly in cold water to soften it slightly.
- Combine all ingredients except the rock sugar in a pot with 5 bowls of cold water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook for about 1 hour until the liquid reduces to roughly 2 bowls.
- Add rock sugar to taste and stir until dissolved.
- Serve warm and drink the full 2 bowls across the day.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup has a mild, naturally sweet flavour with almost no medicinal bitterness — most people find it surprisingly pleasant. It works well as an ongoing wellness soup for those who are constitutionally weak or recovering from respiratory illness. Lean pork can be added for a more savoury version; simply omit the rock sugar if adding pork. Hand orchid tuber (fo shou shen) is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and herbal medicine shops, or online. If unavailable, Prince’s ginseng (tai zi shen) is a widely available and suitable substitute.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Fion): Is there a substitute for hand orchid tuber (fo shou shen)? I also have urgency and frequent urination — would fo shou shen with fu shen (poria with wood) help with that? Bro Niu: You can substitute with Prince’s ginseng (tai zi shen) or Codonopsis (dang shen). For frequent urination and bladder urgency without infection, try cooking a congee or lean pork soup with white ginkgo nuts (15 pieces, pitted), Gordon euryale seeds (gorgon fruit / qian shi, 1 liang), and Cherokee rose fruit (jin ying zi, 3 qian in a tea bag). Eat the ginkgo and euryale seeds. Take 3 portions, then rest for two days and repeat if improving. As for fo shou shen with fu shen — that combination has a calming, spirit-settling quality and may be more helpful for anxiety-related symptoms than for bladder urgency directly.
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Q (Irene Mama): Can lean pork be added to this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, lean pork can be added. If using pork, omit the rock sugar.
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Q (man): My 8-year-old child has had a lingering cough and seems to have less energy. Can this soup help? Bro Niu: For children with a lingering cough after recovery, a suitable soup is ginkgo nuts (6 pieces, pitted), walnut meat (1 liang), north and south almonds (1 liang together), tangerine peel (1 piece), and red dates (4 pieces) simmered with quail or partridge. This supports the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Have it two to three times a week for two weeks and see if the cough improves.
Published June 8, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
