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Winter Melon, Lotus Seed & Night Jasmine Duck Soup

supports digestive comfort; traditionally associated with clearing internal heat and easing a persistent sweet sensation in the mouth

In short: Winter Melon, Lotus Seed & Night Jasmine Duck Soup is a soup that supports digestive comfort; traditionally associated with clearing internal heat and easing a persistent sweet sensation in the mouth. It is most often made for digestive wellness, oral & throat comfort. Total time about 1 hr 50 min. Key ingredients: winter melon, lotus seeds.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
1 hr 35 min
Total
1 hr 50 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Digestive WellnessOral & Throat Comfort
Winter Melon, Lotus Seed & Night Jasmine Duck Soup

Why people make this soup

Have you ever noticed that your mouth tastes oddly sweet even when you have not been eating anything? In traditional Chinese food therapy, a persistent sweet sensation in the mouth is associated with disharmony in the digestive system — sometimes described as “spleen heat.” Nourilo introduces this soup as part of a series on unusual tastes in the mouth. This particular version suits the milder pattern, where the sweet taste comes with poor appetite, a feeling of heaviness or fatigue, and a tendency to feel hot. It is a pleasant everyday soup enjoyed equally for its delicate flavour as for its traditional wellness value.

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.

  • Lotus seeds · Randomized crossover trial, 10 participants · 2019
    Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961
  • Chrysanthemum · Randomized controlled trial, 37 participants · 2023
    Compared with the high-fat meal alone, the extract group had lower postprandial glucose at 1 hour and higher antioxidant markers (T-AOC, SOD, GSH), with lower MDA. Incremental area under the curve did not differ significantly between groups.Limitation: Small sample of healthy young adults given a single high-fat meal, so longer-term effects and effects in people with metabolic conditions are unknown.PubMed 36677639 · 1 more chrysanthemum study

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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