Soups
Capillary Wormwood, Adzuki Bean and Mung Bean Soup
Traditionally used to clear damp-heat and support immunity in changeable weather
Why people make this soup
There were recent reports of children catching hand-foot-and-mouth disease — a viral illness most common in children aged about two to five, often with fever, runny nose, poor appetite, refusal to eat, cough or loose stools. In the traditional view, capillary wormwood (mian yin chen) clears damp-heat and is associated with supporting immunity. When the weather is all over the place — sunny, then rainy, then a big blow — bacteria and viruses get lively, and Bro Niu likes to make a gentle wormwood soup at times like these. Wormwood isn’t strongly medicinal in taste, so paired with adzuki and mung beans children don’t mind it, which makes it a nice supportive soup during hand-foot-and-mouth season.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Children (and the family) during changeable, germy weather as a gentle supportive soup.
- This is a preventive, supportive food, not a treatment. If a child is already unwell or feverish, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Capillary wormwood (mian yin chen): Traditionally clears heat and damp and is associated with supporting immunity; the source also notes it has a suppressive effect on flu virus.
- Adzuki beans (chi xiao dou): Traditionally drain damp and gently clear heat.
- Mung beans (lü dou): Cooling and clearing, a classic summer-heat bean.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capillary wormwood | ~19 g | Rinse; for the family, tie in a tea bag |
| Adzuki beans | ~38 g | Rinse |
| Mung beans | ~38 g | Rinse |
| Rock sugar | a little | Added at the end |
Method
- Rinse the ingredients clean.
- Simmer in 7 bowls of water for 1 hour.
- Add the rock sugar and cook until dissolved, down to 3 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is fragrant with little medicinal taste and, per the source, has a suppressive effect on flu virus. For the whole family, put the wormwood in a tea bag; once the soup is done, just lift out the bag.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): This typhoon looks very strong — has it affected you? Wishing your household well! Bro Niu: Thanks for your concern! I’m not near the coast so the impact is small — just the occasional slight sway of the building.
Published September 21, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
