老火湯LO FO TONG

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百子櫃THE HUNDRED DRAWERS

Dried lily bulb

百合
nourishes yinmoistens the lungscalms the spirit清心適合夜寐不寧、心煩氣躁、陰虛乾咳者

The fleshy scales of the lily bulb, separated and dried to ivory petal-like pieces; the 'dragon tooth' grade is the standard soup form, and fresh bulbs appear seasonally. Soaked half an hour, the scales cook to a tender, faintly sweet bite in both sweet teas and savoury pots.

TCM properties

Nature · cooling　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · heart、lung

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is an evening herb, simmered to moisten the lungs, clear the heart and quiet the spirit, favoured in pots for restless, dry-throated nights.

Cautions — read first

  • Take care with a wind cold cough, or a cold weak spleen and stomach with loose stools

Preparation

Soak dried lily bulb for 30 minutes. Fresh lily bulb goes in at the end of the pot.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

湖南隆回（龍牙百合）／甘肅蘭州（蘭州百合） — AU grocer packs are labelled dragon tooth lily bulbs (Henghui)

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$5.75–5.75 / 100g
Henghui Premium Dragon Tooth Lily Bulbs 85g $4.89

Pairs well with

Lotus seedGlehnia rootSolomon's seal rhizomeDried longan fleshGoji berry / wolfberrySnow fungus

Soups that use this ingredient · 9

Chestnut, lotus root and lily bulb vegetarian soupA$21–25
栗子蓮藕百合素湯
strengthens the spleenreplenishes qimoistens the lungsAutumnWinter
街市Lotus root· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Chestnut· 150 g (4 taels, about 20 nuts)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 40 g (1 tael)街市Carrot· 1百子櫃Red jujube date· 6百子櫃Raisins· 1/3 cup

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Eight-treasure clear-moistening soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
清潤八寶素湯
strengthens the spleendispels dampnessrelieves drynessAll year
街市Carrot· 1街市Lotus root· 300 g百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Lotus seed· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 20 g (half a tael)百子櫃Job's tears / coix seed· 20 g (half a tael)… +2

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Ching bo leung ("clear-nourishing-cooling") soup with pork shinA$8–14
清補涼豬展湯
strengthens the spleendispels dampnessreplenishes qiSummer
百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Lotus seed· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Job's tears / coix seed· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome· 20 g (5 mace)… +4

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Lotus seed, lily bulb and poria soup with lean porkA$11–14
蓮子百合茯神瘦肉湯
calms the spiritstrengthens the spleensupports the kidneysAll year
百子櫃Lotus seed· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Poria with pine hostwood· 20 g (5 mace)百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 8 g (2 mace)百子櫃Candied honey date· 2街市Lean pork· 300 g

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Double-boiled silkie chicken in whole king coconutNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
椰皇燉竹絲雞
nourishes yinrelieves drynessmoistens the lungs4h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year
街市King coconut (used as tureen)· 1街市Silkie (black-boned chicken)· half a bird, about 280 g街市Lean pork· 100 to 200 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 1 length百子櫃Candied honey date· 1百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 1 bulb

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Fritillaria and sea coconut soup with figs and lean porkNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
川貝海底椰無花果瘦肉湯
moistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegmAutumn
百子櫃Sea coconut slices· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Tendrilleaf fritillary bulb· 12 to 20 g (3 to 5 mace)百子櫃Dried fig· 4百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of sweet and bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of sweet and bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 40 g (1 tael)… +2

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”

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