Soups
Papaya, Coconut, Snow Fungus, Hai Yu Zhu & Corn Soup
Traditionally moistens dryness, nourishes the complexion and harmonises qi and blood
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu has a friend, a lifelong vegetarian now past 70, whose skin is genuinely lovely — no spots, few wrinkles. Her secret? Besides avoiding fried, crispy and spicy food, she often cooks moistening, complexion-loving soups, like papaya, snow fungus and apricot-kernel sweet soup. With the weather turning very dry, Bro Niu picked up papaya and snow fungus, plus a mini coconut and corn, and pairs them with yin-nourishing, fluid-generating hai yu zhu. The result is clear, sweet and comforting against dryness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Anyone feeling the effects of very dry weather who wants a moistening, complexion-loving soup
- Suitable as a gentle, meat-free family soup
- “Nourishing but not heaty” — a mild soup with no special cautions
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Papaya (mu gua): sweet and moistening, a classic complexion-loving fruit for soups.
- Coconut (ye zi): lends natural sweetness and a fragrant moisture to the broth.
- Snow fungus (xue er): traditionally valued for moistening and nourishing a smooth complexion.
- Hai yu zhu (a form of huang jing): associated with nourishing yin, moistening the lung and generating fluids to ease thirst.
- Sweet corn (su mi): adds natural sweetness and body.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Papaya (mu gua) | 1 | Peeled, deseeded, cut |
| Mini coconut (mini ye zi) | 1 | Sliced |
| Snow fungus (xue er) | 3 qian (~11 g) | Soaked, stems removed |
| Hai yu zhu | 4 qian (~15 g) | Rinsed |
| Sweet corn (su mi) | 1 cob | Husked, cut |
| Water | 8 bowls | Reduce to 4–5 bowls |
Method
- Peel, deseed and cut the papaya; slice the mini coconut; husk and cut the corn; soak and rinse the snow fungus and hai yu zhu, and trim the stem from the snow fungus.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer 1 hour until reduced to 4–5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup moistens and nourishes the complexion while harmonising qi and blood — nourishing but not “heaty,” making it ideal for dry weather.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Ada): My mouth feels short of saliva, especially between the lips and teeth; I already drink plenty of water but it doesn’t help. What soup would you suggest? Bro Niu: Try steeping 1 tablespoon of American ginseng slices with 1 tablespoon of ophiopogon (mai dong) as a tea; re-steep until light. It helps support qi and generate fluids.
Published December 28, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
