Soups

Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus and Tea Tree Mushroom Soup

traditionally associated with nourishing the spleen and kidneys, supporting immune function, and providing anti-aging and blood-sugar-balancing benefits

In short: Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus and Tea Tree Mushroom Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with nourishing the spleen and kidneys, supporting immune function, and providing anti-aging and blood-sugar-balancing benefits. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, skin & natural beauty. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: snow fungus, red dates.

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Chinese Yam, Snow Fungus and Tea Tree Mushroom Soup

Why people make this soup

Tea tree mushroom (Agrocybe cylindracea, also called velvet pioppino) is a richly nutritious mushroom enjoyed both in Chinese cooking and as an emerging health food worldwide. It is high in protein, loaded with vitamins and minerals, and contains polysaccharides that have attracted interest in immune-health research. Paired with Chinese yam (a long-standing spleen-and-kidney tonic), snow fungus (Tremella — a classic beauty and lung-nourishing ingredient), and flower mushroom, this soup covers a broad spectrum of traditional wellness goals: energising the spleen and kidneys, supporting blood pressure and blood sugar balance, and providing antioxidant support. It is one of those versatile family soups that Nourilo recommends as a regular addition to any household’s cooking rotation.

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.

  • Shiitake mushrooms · Randomized controlled trial · 2015
    Daily shiitake intake was associated with increased ex vivo proliferation of γδ-T and NK-T cells, higher salivary sIgA and lower serum CRP, along with changes in cytokine patterns. The comparison was before versus after intake in two dose groups.Limitation: Parallel 5 g and 10 g dose groups with no placebo or non-mushroom control. Short 4-week study in healthy young adults, with mostly ex vivo immune markers.PubMed 25866155 · 2 more shiitake mushrooms studies
  • Snow fungus · Randomized controlled trial · 2018
    The Tremella fuciformis groups showed greater improvements than placebo in subjective memory complaint scores, short-term memory and executive function tests. Adverse event frequency was similar across high-dose, low-dose and placebo groups.Limitation: Small sample with only 15 people in the placebo group and a short 8-week duration; the brain imaging findings were exploratory.PubMed 29319408
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

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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