Desserts
Poria Cake (Fuling Bing)
Poria Cake is a traditional medicinal pastry with a long history, with its preparation method first recorded in the Jin Dynasty classic Rumen Shiqin. White Poria, the main ingredient, is sweet and neutral in nature, known for strengthening the spleen and stomach, calming the mind, and promoting diuresis. The traditional method uses yellow wax instead of oil for pan-frying – a creative approach that provides a feeling of satiety without adding any nutrients, helping to suppress appetite. The cake is soft and chewy with a subtle herbal aroma, serving both as a spleen-strengthening medicinal snack and a dietary therapy for weight management.
Main Ingredients
- White Poria powder (Fu Ling) 120g
- White flour 60g
- Yellow wax as needed
- Water as needed
Steps
Grind 120g of white Poria into very fine powder.
Combine Poria powder with 60g of white flour, add water, and mix into a thin batter.
Heat an appropriate amount of yellow wax in a pan until melted.
Pour the batter into the pan, spread into thin pancakes, and pan-fry over low heat until golden brown on both sides.
Consume as a staple food, 1-2 times per week.
TCM Notes
White Poria (Fu Ling) : Contains approximately 1.2g protein, 80g dietary fiber, and 82.6g carbohydrates per 100g. Rich in poria polysaccharides and poric acid. Modern pharmacology shows anti-tumor, blood pressure and lipid-lowering, liver-protective, anti-aging, and immune-enhancing effects. Poria is gentle in action, benefiting the heart and spleen while promoting diuresis – tonifying without being harsh, draining without being aggressive. White Flour: Provides essential carbohydrates and small amounts of protein, combining with Poria to maintain necessary nutrients. Yellow Wax (or Cooking Oil) : Traditional method uses yellow wax instead of oil – it contains no nutrients but provides a feeling of fullness and suppresses appetite. Cooking oil can be used as a substitute. Overall: Approximately 200-300 kcal per serving (depending on oil usage), primarily carbohydrates – a low-fat spleen-strengthening medicinal pastry.
Suitable for：Those with spleen deficiency, poor appetite, and loose stools Those with edema and difficult urination Those with palpitations, insomnia, and fatigue Those with simple obesity due to strong stomach and weak spleen, overeating with difficult digestion General population for daily wellness and dampness relief
Not suitable for：Those with kidney deficiency or yin deficiency with internal heat Diabetes patients – commercial Poria cakes often contain honey and sugar Those with deficiency-cold with spermatorrhea Those with damp-heat excess (symptoms: dry stools, red tongue, yellow greasy coating) Those with colds or fever Elderly with rectal prolapse or frequent urination Those with dry mouth, thin build, or irritability
