Night-blooming cereus (dried)

劍花

clears heatmoistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegm廣東家常清潤湯常客

The dried flower of the night-blooming cereus, a climbing cactus, sold as flattened ochre-brown dried blooms usually labelled ba wong fa. Soaked, torn open and rinsed of grit, it turns soft and silky in the pot, adding gentle sweetness and slippery body to everyday clearing soups.

TCM properties

Nature · cooling　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it anchors everyday clearing-and-moistening pots, traditionally simmered with apricot kernels and honey dates to clear heat, moisten the lungs and ease cough and phlegm.

Cautions — read first

Take care if your cough is of the cold and deficient kind
Mild in nature, so most people can use it

Preparation

Soak the dried flowers until soft, tear them open and wash out the grit and dust.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

廣東肇慶（另廣州、佛山一帶）

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Sweet apricot kernel Bitter apricot kernel Candied honey date Dried fig Pork shin (shank)Pork bones (femur / blade)Monk fruit

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Night-blooming cereus (dragon fruit flower) soup with apricot kernels and pork bonesNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

霸王花南北杏蜜棗豬骨湯

clears heatmoistens the lungssoothes coughAutumnSummer

百子櫃Night-blooming cereus (dried)· 75 g, dried百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 and 北杏 combined百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 and 北杏 combined百子櫃Dried fig· 3百子櫃Candied honey date· 3街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 600 g (1 catty)… +1

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”