Dried octopus

章魚乾

replenishes qinourishes blood通乳令湯水鮮甜濃郁

A whole octopus butterflied and sun-dried flat, sold rigid and deep amber, often toasted briefly before use. Soaked and cut into pieces, it slowly releases a sweet, deeply savoury flavour that rounds out long-boiled soups. It is the classic partner to lotus root and peanuts, and to mung beans and papaya.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet、salty　Meridians · spleen、kidney

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is used to replenish qi and blood, and folk tradition pairs it into soups for nursing mothers to encourage milk flow.

Cautions — read first

High in purines, so go carefully if you have gout
High in sodium
Avoid if you are allergic to seafood
Traditionally counted as a stirring food (發物), one said to aggravate existing conditions

Preparation

Soak until soft (30 minutes to 1 hour) and cut it into pieces with scissors; you can toast it in a dry wok (白鑊) for extra fragrance.

Origin

廣東沿海（湛江一帶）；香港亦有本地生曬 — AU observed stock was Hong Kong-origin (On Hing 250g $50), both pack sizes sold out at the 2026-08-18 check

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists · A$20–20 / 100g
On Hing HK-origin 250g $50.00; both pack sizes SOLD OUT at observation 2026-08-18

Pairs well with

Lotus root Mung bean Peanut Papaya Black-eyed pea Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Lotus root, dried octopus and mung bean soup with pork bonesNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

蓮藕章魚綠豆豬骨湯

replenishes qinourishes bloodstrengthens the spleenAutumnWinterAll year

街市Lotus root· 1 root, about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried octopus· 3百子櫃Mung bean· 60 g街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 800 g百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece百子櫃Candied honey date· 3

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