Winter Melon Dampness-Clearing Soup

Why people make this soup

In the depths of a hot southern Chinese summer — particularly around the solar term known as “Minor Heat” (Xiao Shu) in early July — Bro Niu makes a point of preparing dampness-clearing soups for the family. The concept of “dampness” (shi) in traditional food therapy refers to a sluggish, heavy, waterlogged feeling in the body that can build up when the weather is hot and humid, when you drink too many iced drinks, or when the digestive system is working less efficiently. Symptoms people describe include fatigue, a heavy head, poor appetite, and a general sense of being weighed down. This soup is the Cantonese household answer to all of that. Pre-packaged dampness-clearing herb mixes are sold in virtually every Chinese herb shop; they typically contain a combination of adzuki beans, barley, hyacinth beans, smilax root, alisma, and lotus pods — all mild, food-grade herbs that work together gently. Winter melon amplifies the heat-clearing, diuretic effect and makes the soup light and refreshing rather than heavy.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults and children, including young children (half a small bowl is appropriate for toddlers)
• Can be served to the whole family during summer as a regular wellness soup
• Pregnant individuals should ask for a herb mix without barley (coix / yi mi); all other ingredients in standard mixes are generally considered safe in pregnancy; alternatively, add lean pork or a piece of fresh lotus leaf and skip the packaged mix entirely
• Those with a cold constitution or who are generally weak should enjoy in moderation; a warming alternative is to replace barley with an added piece of dried tangerine peel

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dampness-clearing herb mix: The combination of adzuki beans, barley, hyacinth beans, and smilax traditionally drains excess water from the body, supports kidney and spleen function, and clears low-grade heat
• Winter melon (dong gua): Mildly cooling and strongly diuretic; keeps the broth light and refreshing; the skin and seeds are often included as they carry additional clearing properties

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Pre-packaged dampness-clearing herb mix	1 packet	Available at Chinese herb shops; rinse before use
Winter melon	~600 g (1 jin)	Wash with skin on; cut into chunks; seeds can be kept in

Method

1. Rinse the herb mix under running water.
2. Wash the winter melon thoroughly (keep the skin on, as it enhances the clearing effect). Cut into large chunks; the seeds can be included.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
4. Serve warm. Drink the soup and eat the softened winter melon.

Bro Niu’s tips

• You can add a piece of fresh lotus leaf (he ye) and some lean pork to make the soup more substantial and enhance the heat-clearing effect
• If coix barley is not available separately, a packet of “five-flower tea” (wu hua cha) from a Cantonese herbal shop has a similar clearing function
• If someone in the family has a cold constitution or frequent loose stools, reduce the amount of herb mix or replace with a gentler alternative: poria (fu ling), white atractylodes (bai zhu), and hyacinth bean coat (bian dou yi) — 3 qian each — with dried tangerine peel and lean pork
• This soup can also be brewed with old cucumber (lao huang gua) in place of winter melon with a similarly refreshing result

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Betty): Can a pregnant woman at 20 weeks drink this soup? Bro Niu: A pregnant woman can drink this soup, but remove the barley (coix). All the other ingredients are fine.

• Q (Ling): I am 32 weeks pregnant — can I drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, a 32-week pregnant woman can drink it. Early in pregnancy it is better to avoid the barley, but at 32 weeks the other ingredients are fine.

• Q (Wu Ma): Can a 2.5-year-old child drink this dampness-clearing soup? Bro Niu: Yes, children can drink it — no problem. Fresh lotus leaf is available at herbal medicine stalls; some specialty grocery stores also carry it.

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Published July 7, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.