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Persimmon, Lily Bulb and Grass Carp Tail Soup

Traditionally used to nourish the lungs, relieve persistent cough, and support recovery after respiratory illness

In short: Persimmon, Lily Bulb and Grass Carp Tail Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to nourish the lungs, relieve persistent cough, and support recovery after respiratory illness. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, energy & vitality, everyday balance. Total time about 75 min. Key ingredients: lily bulb, ginger, grass carp tail.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
60 min
Total
75 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessEnergy & VitalityEveryday Balance
Persimmon, Lily Bulb and Grass Carp Tail Soup

Why people make this soup

Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 — or other respiratory infections — find that the cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue lingers for weeks or even months. In Cantonese food therapy, this kind of drawn-out respiratory weakness is approached by nourishing the lungs, replenishing qi, and gently clearing any residual heat. Dried persimmons (shi bing) are in season in autumn and bring a gentle lung-moistening and cough-easing quality. Paired with lily bulb — one of the classic lung-and-heart nourishers in Chinese food therapy — and grass carp tail (which is believed to strengthen the spleen and stomach), this soup has a naturally sweet, clear flavour that soothes as it nourishes. Pan-frying the fish tail before adding it to the soup reduces fishiness and adds a rounder, deeper flavour to the broth.

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.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger 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.

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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