Kudzu root — Lo Fo Tong 老火湯

Kudzu root

粉葛

clears heatcools internal firedispels dampness解肌退熱生津止渴升陽止瀉去骨火、清濕熱適合感冒初起、腸胃熱滯

The huge starchy taproot of the kudzu vine (Pueraria thomsonii), sold fresh whole or in cut sections. Dense and fibrous, it needs two hours or more of boiling, releasing a faint sweetness and body into classic pairings with rice beans and dace.

TCM properties

Nature · cooling　Flavour · sweet、pungent　Meridians · spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy kudzu root is used to clear heat and damp, release the muscle layer and generate fluids — the go-to pot when 'bone fire' and damp-heat are said to build up.

Cautions — read first

Cooling in nature: best avoided by pregnant women
Not suitable during your period if you are weak
Those with a cold yin constitution may get an upset stomach or even diarrhoea
People with low blood pressure or diabetes should check before eating it

Preparation

Peel it (or leave the skin on) and cut into big pieces; it is dense and takes 2 hours or more of boiling.

Origin

廣西及廣東為主產（珠三角名品如清遠佛岡竹山粉葛） — Fresh root is an in-store Asian-greengrocer buy in Australia; retail kudzu granules are no substitute in soup

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists

Pairs well with

Rice bean White hyacinth bean Mud carp Smilax rhizome (tu fu ling)Pork bones (femur / blade)Canton love-pea vine

Soups that use this ingredient · 2

Kudzu and smilax (tuckahoe) damp-clearing soup with pork bonesNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

粉葛土茯苓赤小豆豬骨湯

clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSpringSummer

百子櫃Smilax rhizome (tu fu ling)· 40 g (1 tael), dried百子櫃Kudzu root· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Rice bean· 75 g百子櫃White hyacinth bean· 40 g (1 tael)街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 600 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2… +1

“The pot for damp weather.”

Kudzu root, rice bean and hyacinth bean soup with daceNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

粉葛赤小豆扁豆鯪魚湯

clears heatdispels dampnesscools internal fireSpringAll year

百子櫃Kudzu root· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Rice bean· 60 g (2 taels, as given in the source)百子櫃White hyacinth bean· 60 g (2 taels, as given in the source)街市Mud carp· 1, about 400 g街市Lean pork· 300 g街市Carrot· 1… +3

“The pot for damp weather.”