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 — Nourilo 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.