Sha Shen, Yu Zhu and Three-Fruit Soup

Why people make this soup

There are two common types of throat trouble that Nourilo distinguishes. The first is a heat-in-the-lungs type: inflammation triggered by eating too much grilled or fried food or breathing dry autumn air, which can usually be addressed with a simple chrysanthemum and green tea rinse or a cucumber-and-tea broth. The second — the one this soup is designed for — is a yin-deficiency type: the throat dryness and soreness that comes from chronic overwork, poor sleep, and burning the candle at both ends. People with this pattern often notice symptoms are worst in the morning, and they may have a mildly red complexion, persistent fatigue, and a voice that tends toward hoarseness rather than sharp pain. This soup is one of Nourilo’s favourite everyday remedies for that state, and it is gentle enough to be used as a general family soup.

Method

1. Soak sha shen and yu zhu in clean water for a few minutes, then rinse.
2. Place apples and pears in a bowl and pour boiling water over them for 1–2 minutes; remove, rinse well, then cut into chunks with skin on, removing the core.
3. Soak figs briefly, then rinse and halve.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.4 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium simmer and cook for 1 hour until reduced to approximately 1.2–1.5 L.
6. Drink warm. This soup can also be made with the addition of pork ribs or lean pork to serve as a savoury main-course soup.

Nourilo’s Tips

To remove wax and pesticide residues from the apple and pear skins, soak the whole fruits briefly in just-boiled water, then remove and rinse before cutting. If hai yu zhu is not available, regular yu zhu (Polygonatum) works just as well. This soup is naturally sweet from the fruit, so no added sugar is needed for most people. It can be made savoury with the addition of meat. You may add mai dong (ophiopogon), bai he (lily bulb), bei xing (north almonds), or nan xing (south almonds) to extend the lung-nourishing benefits. If dried pear is used instead of fresh (for those outside Asia), remove the seed as it has mild toxicity.