Fresh Lotus Leaf, Adzuki Bean, Job's Tears & Winter Melon Soup

Why people make this soup

The Great Heat (da shu) solar period arrives in late July, bringing the most intense heat of the Chinese calendar. Working or exercising outdoors carries a real risk of heat exhaustion — warning signs include sudden intense thirst, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. At home, the typical response in Cantonese households is to cook a pot of winter melon soup. But this version goes further, adding fresh lotus leaf (whose cooling and dampness-draining properties are particularly valuable in humid subtropical summers), adzuki beans, flat beans, and Job’s tears. Together, these ingredients address not just the heat, but also what Chinese medicine calls “dampness” — the heavy, sluggish, waterlogged feeling that comes with humid weather. What is notable about this soup is that despite its cooling ingredients, it is considered gentle enough even for those with a cold constitution. The spleen-strengthening action of the beans and grains means it won’t leave you feeling depleted.