Raisins
Sun-dried grapes, the familiar pantry raisin or sultana, used straight from the pack after a rinse. In vegetarian and root-vegetable pots they stand in for part of the honey dates, dissolving slightly to lend the broth a fruity, winey sweetness.
TCM properties
Nature · neutral Flavour · sweet、sour Meridians · lung、spleen、kidney
Traditional food therapy
Traditional food therapy counts raisins as a small tonic for qi and blood that also generates fluids; in Cantonese vegetarian soups they are used simply to sweeten the pot naturally.
Cautions: read first
- High in sugar, so people with diabetes should take note
Preparation
Just rinse. They give the soup a natural sweetness and can stand in for some of the 蜜棗 (candied honey dates).
Origin
Turpan, Xinjiang (the traditional Chinese raisin district). Australian retail raisins and sultanas are locally grown (Sunraysia district)
Availability in Australia
Easy to find
