Soups

Ripe Papaya, Snow Fungus, Sweet Almond & Goji Berry Sweet Soup

Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, nourishing the skin, and easing dry throat and constipation

In short: Ripe Papaya, Snow Fungus, Sweet Almond & Goji Berry Sweet Soup is a soup that Traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, nourishing the skin, and easing dry throat and constipation. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, cleansing & regularity, skin & natural beauty. Total time about 45 min. Key ingredients: goji berries, rock sugar.

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Ripe Papaya, Snow Fungus, Sweet Almond & Goji Berry Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Papaya is one of those rare fruits that is simultaneously accessible, plentiful in season, and genuinely nourishing. A beautifully ripe papaya makes an ideal base for this gentle dessert soup — a family favourite in cooler weather that has earned its place in the Cantonese food-therapy kitchen.

Snow fungus and papaya are a natural pairing in Cantonese sweet soups. Snow fungus (雪耳, xue er) has a silky, lightly gelatinous texture when cooked — very different from its dried, crispy appearance in the packet — and it creates a beautifully smooth, slightly thickened broth that feels genuinely nourishing. Combined with southern sweet almonds (the large, mild variety used in cooking, not the bitter medicinal kind) and a spoonful of goji berries, the result is a dessert soup that is elegant, easy to make, and good for you in every bowl.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Snow fungus · Randomized controlled trial · 2018
    The Tremella fuciformis groups showed greater improvements than placebo in subjective memory complaint scores, short-term memory and executive function tests. Adverse event frequency was similar across high-dose, low-dose and placebo groups.Limitation: Small sample with only 15 people in the placebo group and a short 8-week duration; the brain imaging findings were exploratory.PubMed 29319408
  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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