Soups
Chinese Olive, Water Chestnut and Green Radish Soup
Traditionally used to soothe the throat and ease swelling
Why people make this soup
Chinese olives are a year-round find at Chinese or Asian grocers — easy to overlook, yet wonderfully kind to the throat. Traditionally they clear the lungs and ease the throat, generate fluids, and are even called the “fruit of the lungs and stomach.” Water chestnut adds its cooling, phlegm-clearing nature. Together — rounded out with green radish and figs — they make a soup that is kind to a dry-autumn cough and an unhappy throat.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for sore, swollen throats, dry-autumn coughs, a phlegmy cough, and (traditionally) children’s lingering coughs.
- Also valued for regular drinkers and for those who cook a lot over gas flames.
- Gentle and clear — fine for young and old.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese olive (qing lan): traditionally clears the lungs, soothes the throat and generates fluids; long called a “lung-and-stomach fruit.”
- Water chestnut (ma ti): cooling, traditionally clears phlegm and heat and eases a swollen throat.
- Green radish (qing luo bo): light and clearing, helps move phlegm.
- Figs (wu hua guo): add natural sweetness and a soothing quality.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese olives | 15 | lightly cracked with the back of a knife |
| Water chestnuts | 8 | peeled, washed |
| Green radish | 1 | peeled, chunked |
| Figs | 4 | rinsed |
| Lean pork | ~300 g | blanched |
Method
- Crack the Chinese olives lightly with the flat of a knife.
- Peel and wash the water chestnuts; peel and chunk the green radish; rinse the figs.
- Cut the lean pork and blanch it.
- Simmer everything in 8 bowls of water for 2 hours down to 4 bowls, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear, moistening and tasty — fine for all ages. It is especially good for people who drink often, or who cook a lot over a gas stove.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Linda): Can a pregnant woman at 6 months with a cold and sore throat drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink it for a cold with a sore throat in pregnancy. Rest well and drink plenty of warm water.
- Q (Mrs Ng): If I swap in honey dates, would 2 be too sweet? Bro Niu: Two honey dates is fine, no problem.
- Q (reader): My 3-year-old has a day-and-night cough, blocked nose and hoarse voice. What soup helps the cough? Bro Niu: Try a quarter luo han guo and 8 xin yi hua steeped as a tea; you can re-steep until light and give it 2–3 times a day.
Published November 4, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
