Soups
Mung Bean, Job's Tears and Lily Bulb Sweet Soup
Traditionally used to clear summer heat and calm the heart
Why people make this sweet soup
When the weather swings between sun and rain and the temperature climbs, bugs and viruses get busy. This is one of those simple summer sweet soups that families here reach for to clear heat, calm a restless heart and shake off a bit of summer dampness. It is tasty enough that most children happily drink it, and the tangerine peel and slab sugar take the edge off its cooling nature.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Children and adults wanting a gentle, cooling summer drink during hot, muggy weather.
- Go easy if you have a cold constitution; the tangerine peel and sugar soften the chill but it remains cooling.
- During a cold or flu, leave out the lily bulb; if there is phlegm, a sweet soup is not ideal.
- A child with a fever that will not break needs a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Mung bean (lu dou): traditionally used to clear heat and “resolve toxin,” and to relieve summer heat.
- Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): associated with strengthening the spleen, supporting the lungs and draining dampness.
- Lily bulb (bai he): traditionally used to nourish yin, moisten the lungs and calm the mind.
- Tangerine peel (chen pi): added to temper the cooling nature and support digestion.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mung beans (lu dou) | ~38 g | Soak first |
| Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi) | ~38 g | Soak first; raw type preferred over roasted |
| Dried lily bulb (bai he) | ~38 g | Omit during a cold |
| Dried tangerine peel (chen pi) | 2 pieces | Tempers the chill |
| Slab sugar (pian tang) | To taste | Add at the end |
Method
- Rinse and soak the mung beans and Job’s tears (30 minutes to 1 hour helps them soften).
- Put the soaked beans, Job’s tears, lily bulb and tangerine peel in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 1.5 hours until reduced to about 2 bowls.
- Add slab sugar to taste, stir until dissolved, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This sweet soup tastes good, so children rarely refuse it. It also nourishes yin, supports the lungs and helps ease a dry cough, making it a fine everyday summer drink for young and old. The tangerine peel and slab sugar reduce its cold nature. For a less cooling version you can add a few red dates and a piece of tangerine peel, or cook in some lotus seeds.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Si Ming): How long should I soak the mung beans and Job’s tears? Bro Niu: Soaking them for half an hour to an hour first helps them cook soft.
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Q (sweetcutecat): What is the difference between raw and roasted Job’s tears, and when do I use each? Bro Niu: Raw Job’s tears strengthen the spleen, support the lungs and clear heat and dampness; roasted Job’s tears mainly strengthen the spleen and boost qi. If you tend to run cold, use them together. For older folks, using both is often best.
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Q (ki): Can I add fox nut (qian shi), Chinese yam (huai shan) and lotus seeds to this sweet soup? Is rock sugar fine? How often per week? Bro Niu: Fox nut, yam and lotus seeds with lily bulb, Job’s tears and tangerine peel make a fine sweet soup — you don’t even need the mung bean for that version.
Published June 15, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
