Soups
Rose, Luffa and Poria Soup
Traditionally associated with brightening skin and helping fade dark spots
Why people make this soup
Leafing through flower-tea books, Bro Niu noticed how often rose appears — traditionally valued for soothing the liver, lifting low mood and helping regulate the cycle and inner balance. Paired with ingredients long associated with brightening the skin — Job’s tears, poria, sweet almond and luffa — it becomes a gentle, fragrant soup that women enjoy to support clearer, brighter skin and help fade spots.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Women wanting to support brighter skin and fade post-natal melasma or freckles
- The soup is fairly gentle (with rose, poria, ginger and almond), so cold constitutions can have it about once a week
- Not recommended during pregnancy
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Rose buds (mei gui hua): traditionally soothe the liver, lift mood and help regulate inner balance.
- Poria (fu ling): traditionally drains damp, calms the mind and harmonises the stomach.
- Job’s tears (yi mi): traditionally associated with draining damp and brightening the complexion.
- Sweet almond (xing ren): traditionally moistens and is linked with smooth skin.
- Luffa (si gua): light and cooling; traditionally clears heat.
Ingredients (3-4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rose buds (mei gui hua) | 3 qian (~11 g) | Add near the end |
| Poria (fu ling) | 4 qian (~15 g) | |
| Job’s tears (yi mi) | 1 tael (~38 g) | |
| Almonds (xing ren) | 5 qian (~19 g) | |
| Luffa (si gua) | 1 | Peeled and chunked |
| Ginger (sheng jiang) | 2 slices | |
| Lean pork (shou rou) | ~225 g | Blanched |
Method
- Peel and chunk the luffa. Slice the lean pork and blanch it. Soak and rinse the rose buds, poria, Job’s tears and almonds.
- First simmer the pork, luffa, poria, Job’s tears, almonds and ginger in 6 bowls of water for about 1 hour.
- Add the rose buds and simmer about 5 minutes more, then serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is traditionally said to soothe the liver, clear heat, drain damp and brighten the skin, and suits women with post-natal melasma or freckles — but it is not recommended during pregnancy. Clams can be added; just lift out the rose and poria first if you also want to add noodles.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Huan Huan): Can I add noodles or clams to this soup? Bro Niu: You can add clams. Noodles are rarely cooked in it, but if you lift out the rose and poria first, then add the noodles and clams, it should be fine.
- Q (YamaPi): Can a cold-constitution person drink this soup, and must I have it weekly to see results? Bro Niu: With rose, poria, ginger and almond, this soup is fairly gentle, so cold constitutions can take it; once a week is no problem.
- Q (Stella): What can I drink or eat to fade freckles, or use as a face mask? Bro Niu: Brew rose with apple blossom and jasmine as a tea to help fade spots. You can also mix Job’s tears powder with honey and a little cool water, massage onto the face and rinse off after half an hour; or massage the skin with peeled luffa flesh after washing your face (no need to rinse) for a firming effect.
Published April 16, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
