Soups
Green Radish, Chinese Olive, Water Chestnut and Fig Pork Soup
Traditionally used to moisten dryness and soothe the throat in autumn and winter
Why people make this soup
If you cook at home, Bro Niu suggests reaching for green radish often — it traditionally clears heat, soothes the liver and eases a dry mouth, and besides vitamin C it carries vitamin A and an enzyme associated with reducing nitrites. Pair it with Chinese olive (which moistens the throat), water chestnut (which generates fluids and clears heat) and fig (which supports digestion), and you have a comforting moistening soup for the dry days of autumn and winter.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Those with a dry, scratchy throat, who keep late nights, or who tend to run with a heated liver.
- A gentle, everyday soup suitable for young and old.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green radish (qing luo bo): traditionally clears heat, soothes the liver and eases a dry mouth.
- Chinese olive (qing lan): traditionally generates fluids and moistens the throat, easing dry-weather throat discomfort and cough.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): traditionally clears heat, generates fluids and moistens the lung.
- Fig (wu hua guo): traditionally supports digestion and the bowels, and is rich in calcium.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green radish (qing luo bo) | 1 | Peel, cut into chunks |
| Chinese olive (qing lan) | 10 | Rinse, crack with the back of a knife |
| Water chestnut (ma ti) | 6 | Peel and rinse |
| Figs (wu hua guo) | 4 | Rinse |
| Lean pork (shou rou) | ~300 g | Cut into chunks, blanch |
Method
- Peel and chunk the green radish; rinse the Chinese olives and crack them with the back of a knife; peel and rinse the water chestnuts; rinse the figs.
- Cut the lean pork into chunks and blanch.
- Combine everything with 8 bowls of water and simmer about 1.5 hours down to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear, moistening and tasty, good for the whole family — and especially helpful for those with a dry throat, frequent late nights, or a heated liver.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (anonymous): My friend has acid reflux and constant nausea — what food therapy helps? Bro Niu: Watch against eating too little or too much, eat on a regular schedule, and avoid eating anything after dinner so the stomach can rest. Monkey-head mushroom and green papaya are traditionally said to protect the stomach lining — good for soup. For example, ~19 g each of yam and dendrobium with 3 monkey-head mushrooms and 4 red dates in a lean pork soup; or a green papaya with 4 figs and ~11 g snow fungus in a lean pork soup.
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Q (JK): If I am preparing for pregnancy, should I avoid xin yi hua tea? Should I follow a pregnancy diet even before I know? Bro Niu: If you do not yet know whether you are pregnant, it is best to avoid flower teas; perilla leaf (zi su ye), about 11 g, calms the fetus and releases the exterior and can be used instead.
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Q (JK): My cold has lasted days and is nearly better, but breathing through my nose makes my throat itch and very dry, I get thirsty fast, and there is occasional thick yellowish mucus — seems like post-nasal drip. What should I brew? Bro Niu: Try 8 xin yi hua flowers, 3 scallion whites and 4 licorice slices boiled in 3.5 bowls of water for 10 minutes, 2–3 batches, to help post-nasal drip.
Published November 27, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
