Sea coconut slices

海底椰

moistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegmclears heat清燥潤肺除煩清熱

Dried slices of African and Thai fan-palm fruits sold as 'sea coconut'; the genuine Seychelles coco de mer is a different, protected plant almost never in the trade. The thin ivory slices turn translucent with boiling and give clearing soups a light coconut-water sweetness.

TCM properties

Nature · cooling　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is simmered with apple, pear or figs in clearing, moistening pots against seasonal dryness, traditionally credited with moistening the lungs and easing heat-type cough and phlegm.

Cautions — read first

Take care with a cold cough. It suits a hot or dry cough only, and with a cold cough it makes things worse.
Market stock is a mixed bag, since true Seychelles sea coconut is extremely rare, so buy from a dried-goods shop with a good name
Keep the amount modest if your spleen and stomach run cold

Preparation

Soak and rinse the dried slices. Fresh 海底椰 is simply sliced.

Origin

泰國及非洲棕櫚產區（市售切片來源） — an AU listing exists (Exotic Groceries) but displayed no price at the 2026-08 survey; specialist item

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Apple Asian pear / snow pear Tendrilleaf fritillary bulb Dried fig Chestnut Pork shin (shank)

Soups that use this ingredient · 3

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.”

Double-boiled crocodile meat with fritillary bulb and sea coconutNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

川貝海底椰燉鱷魚肉

moistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegm3h slow fireAutumnWinterAll year

百子櫃Crocodile meat (dried or frozen)· 40 to 75 g dried (1 to 2 taels)百子櫃Tendrilleaf fritillary bulb· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Sea coconut slices· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) together with the bitter apricot kernels百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· (40 g / 1 tael of sweet and bitter apricot kernels combined)百子櫃Dried fig· 2 to 3… +3

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

Papaya and snow fungus soup with pork ribsA$18–21

木瓜雪耳排骨湯

moistens the lungsnourishes the complexioneases the bowelsAutumnAll year

街市Papaya· 1百子櫃Snow fungus· 1 whole piece百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 sweet and 北杏 bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· 40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 sweet and 北杏 bitter apricot kernels combined百子櫃Candied honey date· 2街市Pork spare ribs· 600 g… +2

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