Spring weather is unpredictable and humid, making people prone to fatigue, drowsiness, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, and skin problems. Therefore, during this transitional season of fluctuating temperatures, we should adapt to the changing weather by taking "drying" actions. Cantonese people commonly use "drying soup" to combat dampness. Here are several popular drying soups for you.
Cantonese people are experts in soups, knowing how to combine different ingredients and cook various types of soups. Even just for spring drying soup, there are many varieties. For example:
Strengthening Spleen and Removing Dampness Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: 10g dried Chinese yam (Huai Shan), 10g poria (Tu Fu Ling), 10g xiang huang cao, 300g pig pancreas (Pig Heng Yue Li), sufficient water.
Method: Wash the Chinese yam, poria, xiang huang cao, and pig pancreas together, place them in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil, then simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Drink immediately.
· Suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach.
Harmonizing and Resolving Dampness Soup
(Serves 3–4)
Ingredients: 30g bauhinia flower, 30g egg flower, 30g sophora flower, 30g coix seed, 100g lean meat, 30g stir-fried hyacinth bean, 12g tangerine peel or sandalwood.
Method: Wash bauhinia flower, egg flower, sophora flower, coix seed, lean meat, stir-fried hyacinth bean, tangerine peel or sandalwood, place all in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour.
· Suitable for those with damp-heat and weak spleen.
Clear Heat and Remove Dampness Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: 250g wild poria, 250g fresh kudzu root, 50g red adzuki beans, 50g white hyacinth bean, half a tangerine peel, 8 bowls of water.
Method: Peel and cut wild poria into segments, peel and cut kudzu root into chunks, place all ingredients in the pot, bring to boil, then simmer on low heat for 3 hours.
· Ideal for clearing internal fire, removing dampness, and detoxifying.
Quail Drying Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: 4 quails, 50g coix seed, 50g lily bulb, 3 slices of ginger.
Method: Place quails, coix seed, lily bulb, and ginger in a clay pot, add sufficient water, and simmer for 1.5 hours.
· Helps clear heat, remove dampness, moisten lungs, and resolve phlegm.
Pig Heng Yue Li Drying Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: 250g pig pancreas (Heng Yue Li), 10g prunella herb, 10g cottony wormwood, 2 slices of ginger.
Method: Blanch the pig pancreas first to remove fishy smell; then place prunella herb, cottony wormwood, ginger, and pig pancreas in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1.5 hours.
· This soup not only clears heat and removes dampness but also clears liver heat and has therapeutic benefits for diabetics.
Hermit Turtle Drying Soup
(Serves 3–5)
Ingredients: 500g hermit turtle, 200g pork, 250g fresh wild poria, 6 red dates.
Method: Place hermit turtle, pork, wild poria, and red dates in a clay pot and simmer for 3 to 4 hours.
· Has functions of clearing heat, removing dampness, and detoxifying.
Cucumber Drying Soup
Ingredients: 800g old cucumber (remove seeds), 25g tangerine peel, 25g glutinous rice, 2 duck kidneys, sufficient water.
Method: 1. Cut old cucumber into large pieces after removing seeds; briefly soak tangerine peel, scrape off inner lining, wash clean; wash duck kidneys, blanch, slice; rinse glutinous rice.
2. Add water to clay pot, place old cucumber, tangerine peel, glutinous rice, and duck kidneys, bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 2 hours. Season before drinking.
· Clears heat and relieves irritability, suitable for symptoms such as heat annoyance, sore throat, and red, hot urine.
Drying Ingredients
American ginseng: If excessive cold foods cause spleen deficiency, drink American ginseng tea to strengthen spleen and stomach.
Lotus leaf: Made from fresh lotus leaves, dried for use. Besides its dampness-reducing and diuretic effects, it also aids appetite and digestion.
White Atractylodes: A plant from the Compositae family, its root used medicinally. Strengthens stomach, improves vitality, effective for weakness in limbs and poor appetite.
Wild Poria: From the Liliaceae family, its root used in medicine. Promotes fluid circulation in the body, diuretic, and calming.
Coix Seed: Also known as Job's tears, primarily used to remove dampness, reduces edema, benefits the digestive system, and has strong diuretic properties.
Bauhinia Flower: Removes damp toxins and clears heat.
Maidenhair Root: The root of Imperata cylindrica, excellent for diuresis and removing dampness.
Smart Tips to Reduce Dampness
These 6 tips help reduce dampness:
Do not stay long in damp places; avoid working outdoors in humid areas.
During high humidity or rainy days, do not frequently open windows, but still ensure ventilation.
Pay attention to indoor ventilation and dehumidification. Even if clothes are hard to dry, do not force yourself to wear damp clothes.
Dampness often comes with cold; keep warm, avoid getting chilled, avoid overly cold foods, eat more spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing foods, moderate warming supplements, allowing dampness to be expelled through urination and defecation.
On sunny days, go outside to sunbathe and exercise appropriately.
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