老火湯LO FO TONG

百子櫃THE HUNDRED DRAWERS

Sweet apricot kernel

南杏

moistens the lungssoothes coughrelieves drynesseases the bowels生津油脂豐富，湯水添杏香

The sweet apricot kernel, a plump ivory seed larger than its bitter northern cousin, sold peeled at retail. Rich in natural oils, it gives soups and blended almond teas a milky, fragrant nuttiness and a touch of body.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung、large intestine

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is used with a small share of bitter kernels, the classic naam bak hang pairing, to moisten the lungs and throat, ease dry cough and smooth the bowels.

Cautions — read first

Rich and oily, so it loosens the bowel. Take care if your stools are already loose.
Worth noting for anyone with a nut allergy

Preparation

Soak and rinse. For almond milk (杏汁) you grind them to a slurry and strain out the solids.

Origin

華北杏產區（河北承德等地） — sold peeled and processed only at AU retail under FSANZ kernel restrictions

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$3.99–5.8 / 100g
Henghui Peeled Southern Apricots 80g $3.19 (grocer); Wellsoon 南杏仁 500g bulk $28.99 — sold processed/peeled only

Pairs well with

Bitter apricot kernel Dried bok choy / white cabbage Papaya Asian pear / snow pear

Soups that use this ingredient · 15

Dried bok choy soup with apricot kernels and pork bonesNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

白菜乾南北杏蜜棗豬骨湯(菜乾湯)

moistens the lungsrelieves drynesscools internal fireAutumnWinter

街市Dried bok choy / white cabbage· 75 g (2 taels)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· 3街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece… +2

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Watercress soup with apricot kernels, honey dates and lean porkA$22–35

西洋菜南北杏蜜棗瘦肉湯

clears heatmoistens the lungssoothes coughAutumnWinter

街市Watercress· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 20 g百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· 12 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 3百子櫃Monk fruit· a quarter街市Lean pork· 600 g (1 catty)… +1

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Watercress and dried duck gizzard soup with pork bonesNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

西洋菜陳腎煲豬骨

clears heatcools internal firemoistens the lungsAutumnWinter

街市Watercress· 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried cured duck gizzard· 2 to 3百子櫃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Candied honey date· 2 to 3街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 600 g (1 catty)… +1

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

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.”

Sauropus (dragon's tongue) leaf and monk fruit soup with lean porkNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

龍脷葉羅漢果瘦肉湯

moistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegmAutumn

百子櫃Dragon's tongue leaf· 20 g百子櫃Monk fruit· a third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Candied honey date· 2街市Lean pork· 300 g

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Double-boiled pork shin with two ginsengs and sweet apricot kernelsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

雙蔘南杏燉豬展

replenishes qimoistens the lungssoothes cough3h slow fireWinter

百子櫃Korean red ginseng· 6 g百子櫃Transplanted mountain ginseng· 6 g百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· 15 g百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome· 30 g百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· a third of a piece街市Pork shin (shank)· 60 g

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