Sweet Soups & Desserts
Chinese Olive, Apple and Candied Tangerine Water
Traditionally used to soothe the throat and generate fluids
Why people make this water
Bro Niu had been teaching back-to-back and his throat had gone dry and scratchy, so he went to market for fresh long lei ye, apples and the like to head off an autumn cough and a sore throat. No fresh long lei ye that day — but the Chinese olives were big and cheap, so he grabbed half a catty. The Chinese olive traditionally clears heat, soothes the throat and generates fluids, and is wonderful for an unhappy throat. With apple, carrot, water chestnut and a couple of candied tangerine cakes from the cupboard, it simmers into a clear, sweet, throat-friendly drink that also helps fend off dry-autumn coughing.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for a dry, scratchy or sore throat and the dryness of autumn.
- Traditionally also valued for children’s lingering coughs and for those whose tonsils inflame easily.
- Clear and gentle — fine for young and old.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese olive (qing lan): traditionally clears heat, soothes the throat and generates fluids.
- Apple and carrot: add natural sweetness and a moistening quality.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): cooling, traditionally clears phlegm and heat.
- Candied tangerine cake (jie bing): sweet and soothing to the throat.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese olives | 15 | rinsed, cracked with the back of a knife |
| Apples | 2 | scrubbed, cored, chunked |
| Carrot | 1 | peeled, chunked |
| Water chestnuts | 6 | peeled, washed |
| Candied tangerine cake | 2 | lightly rinsed (use 1 if phlegmy) |
Method
- Rinse the Chinese olives and crack them lightly with the flat of a knife.
- Scrub the apples with salt to remove residue, then core and chunk; peel and chunk the carrot.
- Peel and wash the water chestnuts; lightly rinse the candied tangerine cakes.
- Simmer everything in 8 bowls of water for 1 hour down to 4–5 bowls, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This water is clear and moistening, fine for all ages. It is especially good for children with a lingering cough and for those whose tonsils inflame easily. If the cough is phlegmy, one candied tangerine cake is enough.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): Can a child with a phlegmy cough drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, a child with a phlegmy cough can drink it — but use just one candied tangerine cake.
- Q (Claris): I run yin-deficient and heaty; lately my tongue is swollen and sore with a thick white coating and tooth marks, plus mouth ulcers, a little white phlegm and no energy. What can I make? Bro Niu: First use yun ling, bai zhu, bian dou yi and ze xie 3 qian each, one tangerine peel and gan cao 2 qian, simmered half an hour as a tea for 3–4 servings to strengthen the spleen and drain damp — only then move on to tonic soups.
Published November 10, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
