Dried Night-Blooming Cereus, Euryale Seed & Fig Soup with Lean Pork

Why people make this soup

Night-blooming cereus (霸王花, ba wang hua) has a gentle, pleasant fragrance and a mild cooling quality. In Chinese food therapy, it is commonly used to support the respiratory tract — traditionally said to ease phlegm, support the lungs, and promote healthy bowel function. The fresh flower is considered more cooling in nature, so Cantonese households almost always use the dried version, which is gentler and suitable for a wider range of people. By adding euryale seeds (qian shi), Nourilo rounds out the formula: the seeds are thought to tonify the spleen and support those prone to loose stools or weak digestion. The result is a soup that is mild enough for children and older adults, fragrant, and deeply comforting.