Soups
Grain Sprout, Malt and Corn Soup with Carrot, Water Chestnut and Fig
traditionally used to ease children's bad breath, support digestive clearance, and promote regular bowel movements
Why people make this soup
A child’s bad breath is rarely about oral hygiene alone. In Cantonese food therapy, persistent bad breath in children — especially when paired with poor appetite, a slightly yellowish complexion, or scanty stools — is often linked to food accumulation (shi ji): undigested food that lingers in the digestive tract, fermenting and producing a sour or unpleasant odour. Picky eating, too much meat, sweets and fried food, too little fruit and vegetables, and not enough water all contribute. Bro Niu’s approach here is clever: the soup is naturally sweet, mild, and fragrant — the kind of soup that a child will actually want to drink. Corn on the cob with its silk (the fibrous strands), water chestnuts, figs, and carrot give it a beautiful golden sweetness, while grain sprouts and roasted malt gently support digestive enzyme activity and clear food stagnation from the inside.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for children and adults with bad breath linked to food accumulation, sluggish digestion, or poor dietary balance
- Suitable for children with constipation or irregular bowel movements
- Good for the whole family as a pleasant, everyday digestive wellness soup
- Note for pregnant women: grain sprouts and malt may have a mild milk-reducing effect; avoid during the late third trimester and while breastfeeding if planning to maintain milk supply
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Grain sprouts (gu ya): Dried sprouted rice. Sweet and neutral. Gently supports digestive function and helps resolve food stagnation, particularly from starchy foods.
- Roasted malt (chao mai ya): Sprouted and roasted barley. Slightly warm, sweet, and sour. One of the classical Chinese food-therapy ingredients for dissolving food accumulation and supporting the stomach. The roasted form (chao) is more effective for digestive use.
- Corn with silk (su mi lian xu): Naturally sweet and mildly diuretic. The corn silk in particular supports urination, helping clear heat and dampness from the lower body. Including the silk is the traditional Cantonese approach.
- Water chestnuts (ma ti): Cool and sweet. Help clear digestive heat and promote bowel regularity.
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): Gently laxative and moistening. Support smooth bowel movement without being harsh.
- Carrot: Adds natural sweetness and beta-carotene. Also contributes fibre.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grain sprouts (gu ya) | 20 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Roasted malt (chao mai ya) | 20 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Corn on the cob | 2 cobs | Keep the corn silk — remove husk but keep the silky strands; cut into sections |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peeled, sliced |
| Water chestnuts | 6 pieces | Peeled, sliced |
| Dried figs | 4 pieces | Rinse briefly |
| Rock sugar | A small amount | Add at end; adjust to taste |
| Water | 7 bowls (~1.75 litres) |
Method
- Rinse and soak the grain sprouts and roasted malt briefly.
- Remove the husks from the corn but keep the silk strands. Cut into sections about 4–5 cm long.
- Peel and slice the carrot and water chestnuts. Rinse the figs.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook for 1 hour.
- Stir in a small amount of rock sugar at the end and let it dissolve.
- Serve warm. The soup is naturally sweet and pleasant — most children will happily drink it.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is good for the whole family and can be served as an everyday digestive wellness soup, not only for children with bad breath. It helps ease stomach heat and restlessness, and also supports mouth sores (oral ulcers). For children with a cold constitution or cold hands and feet, this soup is still fine — you can add a small amount of tangerine peel (chen pi) to warm it slightly. Alternatively, use poria (yun ling), white atractylodes (bai zhu), and hyacinth bean coat (bian dou yi) as a simpler digestive wellness tea for the whole family.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Kikko): My daughter is 2 years and 10 months old. She has bad breath, two large mouth ulcers, and hasn’t had a bowel movement for two days. Is this soup suitable? Bro Niu: Yes, she can drink this soup. For the constipation, you can also scrape some dragon fruit flesh and give it to her — it works quickly to get things moving.
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Q (cherrylau): My 2-year-old just recovered from flu and now has very loose, foul-smelling stools. She likes meat and fish. Is this soup okay for her? Can I add sugarcane? Bro Niu: For loose, smelly stools, I’d suggest poria (yun ling), white atractylodes (bai zhu), and hyacinth bean coat (bian dou yi, 3 qian each) with tangerine peel and honey dates — simmer with 4 bowls of water until reduced to 2 bowls. This grain sprout and malt soup is also fine; yes, you can add sugarcane.
Published February 27, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
