Dragon Tongue Leaf, Stone Huangpi and Carrot Soup

Why people make this soup

After a cold or a bout of throat inflammation, the cough and phlegm that linger can feel harder to shake than the illness itself. Nourilo put together this soup as a gentle, food-based way to support the body through that recovery phase. The combination of fresh dragon tongue leaf and stone huangpi works to clear accumulated heat in the lungs, while the apricot kernels and honey dates round out the flavour and help soothe the airways. Because the overall nature of this soup is mild rather than strongly cold, it is one of the few respiratory soups that both adults and children can drink comfortably.

Method

1. Rinse the dragon tongue leaf and stone huangpi thoroughly. Use the flat of a knife to lightly crush the stone huangpi — this helps the flavour infuse into the soup.
2. Peel the carrot and cut into large chunks.
3. Place all ingredients into a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 1 hour until the liquid has reduced to approximately 600–900 ml.
5. Strain and drink warm.

Nourilo’s Tips

For a more rounded everyday wellness version of this soup, you can add a pear, an apple, or a portion of lean pork when cooking. This makes the flavour more gentle and adds substance. Note that this soup leans toward the cooler side, so it is not recommended as a regular daily wellness drink — save it for when coughing and phlegm are actually present.