Candied honey date

A jujube candied in sugar syrup and dried to a glossy, ridged amber lump, the 'golden thread' pattern scoring its surface. It is the default sweetener of the Cantonese soup pot: two or three dissolve slowly to round out and gloss a savoury broth.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · spleen、lung

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese soup-craft it is less medicine than seasoning: the traditional sweet lead-in, credited in food therapy with moistening the lungs and harmonising the middle.

Cautions: read first

• Very high in sugar, so people with diabetes and anyone cutting sugar should take note
• Not in quantity if phlegm damp is heavy

Preparation

Just rinse. Pinching them open a little draws out more flavour.

Origin

Processed in the jujube districts of China (the Beijing-style golden thread honey date and the like)

Availability in Australia

Easy to find

Pairs well with