Soups
Pitaya Flower & Monk Fruit Soup
Pitaya Flower & Monk Fruit Soup is a classic Cantonese nourishing soup, made with dried pitaya flower (also known as Jianhua or霸王花) and Luo Han Guo (monk fruit) as the core ingredients, supplemented with apricot kernels, figs, and tangerine peel, slowly simmered. Pitaya flower is cool in nature and sweet in taste, known for clearing heat, moistening the lungs, and resolving phlegm. Luo Han Guo, known as the “immortal fruit”, is sweet in taste and cool in nature, clearing heat, moistening the lungs, relieving sore throat, and resolving phlegm. Both are sweet, cool, and moisturizing, with complementary properties that work together effectively. The resulting soup is sweet, refreshing, and aromatic, making it a classic autumn-winter wellness combination for soothing the throat and nourishing the lungs.
Main Ingredients
- Dried pitaya flower (Bawanghua / Jianhua) 50g
- Luo Han Guo (monk fruit) 1 piece
- Sweet and bitter apricot kernels (Nanbeixing) 10g each
- Dried figs 10 pieces
- Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi) 3g
- Lean pork 500g
- Salt to taste
Steps
Soak and rinse 50g of dried pitaya flower, drain and cut into sections; break Luo Han Guo into small pieces; rinse apricot kernels and figs; scrape off the white pith from the tangerine peel and soak in water; wash and cut 500g of lean pork into chunks.
Place pork in a pot with cold water, bring to a boil, skim off foam, boil for 2-3 minutes, rinse with warm water and drain.
Place the prepared pork, Luo Han Guo, pitaya flower, apricot kernels, figs, and tangerine peel in a clay pot. Add enough water (approx. 2500-3000ml).
Boil over high heat for 20 minutes first, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour. For richer flavor, extend to 2 hours.
Add salt to taste just before serving. Drink the soup and eat the meat. Serve warm.
TCM Notes
Pitaya Flower (Bawanghua / Jianhua) : Cool in nature, sweet in taste; enters the Lung meridian. Known for clearing heat, moistening the lungs, and resolving phlegm. The Lingnan Caiyao Lu records that it can “stop qi pain and treat phlegm-fire cough”. Rich in amino acids and trace elements, it is an excellent nourishing soup ingredient. Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) : Sweet in taste, cool in nature; enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians. Known for clearing heat and cooling blood, promoting fluid production and relieving cough, moistening the intestines and detoxifying, and moistening the lungs and resolving phlegm. Rich in mogrosides, vitamin C, and various trace elements. Mogrosides are natural sugar substitutes that do not participate in human metabolism. Sweet & Bitter Apricot Kernels (Nanbeixing) : Sweet apricot kernels moisten the lungs and stop cough; bitter apricot kernels descend qi and relieve wheezing. Together, they relieve cough, wheezing, and moisten the intestines. Figs: Neutral in nature, sweet in taste; clear the lungs, relieve cough, and strengthen the spleen and stomach. Dried Tangerine Peel (Chenpi) : Regulates qi, resolves phlegm, and harmonizes the middle. When combined with pitaya flower, it becomes warm without being drying, enhancing the phlegm-resolving and cough-relieving effects. Overall: Rich in vitamin B, C, glycosides, protein, and other nutrients. The natural sweetness of Luo Han Guo means no additional sugar is needed. This soup has the effects of clearing heat, relieving sore throat, moistening the lungs, and relieving cough.
Suitable for：Those with lung-heat or lung-dryness cough Those with dry throat, sore throat, throat inflammation, or loss of voice Those who frequently smoke or consume excessive alcohol Urban professionals who frequently stay up late or attend social gatherings Those who overuse their voice (e.g., teachers, broadcasters) Those with dry mouth, dry skin, or dry cough Those with yin deficiency and internal heat constitution General population for autumn-winter wellness and dryness relief
Not suitable for：Those with external wind-cold – symptoms include excessive phlegm that is white and thin Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency – the soup is cooling and may damage Spleen yang Those with yin deficiency constitution – avoid excessive consumption Pregnant women – pitaya flower is slightly cold in nature Women during menstruation Those with excessive phlegm and dampness Diabetes patients – although Luo Han Guo is a natural sugar substitute, caution is still advised
