老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Heat-clearing

Night-blooming cereus (dragon fruit flower) soup with apricot kernels and pork bones

霸王花南北杏蜜棗豬骨湯
clears heatmoistens the lungssoothes coughresolves phlegmeases the bowelscools internal fireAutumnSummer slow-boiled · 2.5 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Ingredients

百子櫃Night-blooming cereus (dried)· also called 霸王花; soak and rinse75 g, dried
百子櫃Sweet apricot kernel· mostly 南杏40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 and 北杏 combined
百子櫃Bitter apricot kernel· a small amount only, must be cooked right through40 g (1 tael) of 南杏 and 北杏 combined
百子櫃Dried fig3
百子櫃Candied honey date3
街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· traditionally 1 pork lung is also used600 g (1 catty)
百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel1 piece

Method

  1. Soak the dried 霸王花 until soft, rinse it clean and snip it into lengths. Rinse both kinds of apricot kernel and the figs.
  2. Blanch the pork bones (飛水, a quick boil) to clear the bloody scum.
  3. Bring 3 litres of water to the boil over high heat and add everything.
  4. Once it returns to the boil, turn down to low heat and simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
  5. Season with salt and it is ready.

Who it suits

  • a phlegmy, heaty cough
  • constipation

Who should take care

  • be careful with a cold-type cough
  • people with a weak, cold constitution should be careful
  • 北杏 must be cooked right through and kept to a small amount
  • people with gout or high uric acid should drink only a little, long-simmered meat soups are high in purines (general warning across this collection)
  • pregnant women should be careful (北杏)

Soup stories

霸王花 also goes by the name 劍花, and it is the dried flower of a climbing cactus. Old Guangzhou boiled it with pork lung, which is the long-established 劍花豬肺湯.

From the same family

Winter melon, dried shrimp and glass noodle soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬瓜蝦米粉絲湯（滾冬瓜湯）
clears heatdispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummer
街市Winter melon· about 600 g (1 catty)百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 1 to 2 tablespoons百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· 1 bunch百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 2 to 3街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Angled loofah, cloud ear fungus and pork slice soupA$7–15
勝瓜雲耳肉片湯（絲瓜滾湯）
clears heatcools internal fireeases the bowelsSummer
街市Angled loofah· 1 to 2百子櫃Cloud ear fungus· 1 small handful街市Lean pork· about 150 to 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 to 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Yellowcress (marsh cress) and snakehead fish soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
塘葛菜生魚湯
clears heatdispels dampnessmoistens the lungsSpringSummerAll year
百子櫃Yellowcress / marsh cress· 300 g百子櫃Snakehead fish· 1, about 600 g (1 catty)街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Lo Fo Tong is cultural food-heritage reference, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, talk to your doctor or registered practitioner before changing what is in the pot.