Night Jasmine Flower, Cilantro and Pork Slice Soup

Why people make this soup

Summer brings a particular kind of uncomfortable — the combination of blazing sun, heavy humidity and sudden air-conditioning chill can leave people feeling foggy, headachy and off their appetite. Night jasmine flowers (ye xiang hua) are a prized summer ingredient in Cantonese food therapy, and cooks have long used them in quick-boiled soups to address exactly this seasonal discomfort. The flowers are naturally rich in vitamins A and C and are thought to help the body regulate its response to summer heat and external pathogens. Cilantro (yuan sui / coriander) adds a second layer of benefit: it aids digestion, supports light perspiration that can help the body “release” early-stage cold or heat, and has even been studied for its potential to help reduce heavy metal accumulation in the body — something Nourilo often highlights when recommending it. Together with thin-sliced pork, this is a soup you can have ready in twenty-five minutes and that the whole family can enjoy.