Luo Han Guo

by | Oct 18, 2009 | Ingredients | 2 comments

Ingredient Name:

Luo Han Guo, Siraitia Grosvernorii, Arhat’s fruit, Monk’s fruit

Traditional Chinese Name:

羅漢果 (luóhàn guǒ)

 This ingredient is slightly cooling and sweet.

 

This fruit grows on a vine plant common to southern China and northern Thailand and is often used dried in soups and teas.  There are normally 2 versions of this dried fruit you can find in the supermarkets, a very dark brown version (more dry) and a golden version (less dry and less pungent).

This dried herbal ingredient is considered cooling and is sweet to taste.  It’s actually a great sweetener to teas without needing to add any sugar.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this herb is great for eliminating coughs, nourishing and moisturizing the lungs, and replenishing yin.  It can help cool both the body and the lungs and targets the lungs and large intestines.

I’ve used this both in soups and teas.  It creates a dark color to the soup and has a particularly sweet taste to it.  I’d recommend trying a quarter first (I used 4 cups of water for teas and 3L of water for soup).  You would want the soups to be more dilute because the soup is more savory than sweet.  Try it!

How do I prepare it?

    For the dried versions, I will rinse under warm water first and pat dry.  Then using the flat side of a knife, smash it.  Literally!  It will break into shreds as the outer shell is very hard and reveal a shriveled core with seeds.  Some use only the shell, but I’ll use both the core and shell.
    For soups, I’ll only use a quarter, but some recipes do call for half if you’d like.  It’s really a preferred taste on how sweet you’d like it.
    For teas, I will also use only a quarter.

Where can I buy it?

      • You can purchase these from most Asian supermarkets prepackaged
      • You can also purchase this in bulk from specialty stores (online herbal shops)
      • The one thing I did notice is that the Chinese prepared ones are different from Western prepared red dates.  So just check to be sure they look like the above photos.  

What is the cost?

      • In Canada, I’ve bought them for 4 for $8 CAD, so around $2 per golden fruit

      • The dark brown ones cost a little less
      • In Hong Kong, I’ve seen them for $5 HKD per monk fruit

Any benefits?

      • A cooling herb designed to cool the body and lungs
      • It targets the lungs and help nourish, moisten, and replenish lung yin
      • It’s designed for yin deficiency primarily (or also dry heat, which is excess yang) and also replenishes Qi and Blood
      • This ingredient is already sweet, so you don’t need much sugar if you’re making a tea
      • It’s packed full of antioxidants and helps detoxify the body
      • Great for addressing dry coughs and sore throats!

Any precautions?

      • It’s a pretty pungent fruit, so taste test how much you’ll need (add less first)

      • It’s also a cooling herb, so consume if you have more heaty conditions

Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?

While luo han guo isn’t the most common or basic of ingredients, I will always keep 1-2 in my pantry as well.  These are great for teas and easy to make, so I will also have some lying around.  

 

EXPLORE MORE

A Chinese Herbal Tea to Nourish, Heal, and Strengthen the Lungs

Tea Name: Nourishing, Healing, and Strengthening Chinese Herbal tea for the lungs (and cooling) Traditional Chinese Name: 羅漢果雪梨茶 (luó hàn guǒ xuě lí chá) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and sour (You can read this article on the impact on your body of different food...

Cooling Snow Pears and Apples in a Chrysanthemum Tea

Tea Name: Cooling Snow Pears and Apples in a Chrysanthemum Tea Traditional Chinese Name: 雪梨蘋果菊花清熱茶 (xuě lí píng guǒ jú huā qīng rè chá)  Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and sour (You can read this article on the impact on your body of different food tastes!) For more...

Japanese Inspired Vinaigrette (for Beef Carpaccio or Salad)

Sauce Name: Japanese inspired vinaigrette (for beef carpaccio or salads or as an appetizers) Nature:  Warm (which is primarily the vinegar) Taste:  Sour and bitter and slightly sweet Targets: Liver and stomach   For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.Yes! ...

6 Practical Applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Every Day Life

6 PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IN EVERY DAY LIFE(A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PERSPECTIVE)Practicing and living in Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts isn't hard!  It's actually all about what you consume, when you consume it, your...

Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese herbal pork broth

Soup Name: Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese Herbal Pork Broth Traditional Chinese Name: 紅青蘿蔔湯 (hóng qing luóbo tang) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and savory For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.My parents came home last night from a cruise...

A Chinese Herbal Tea to Nourish, Heal, and Strengthen the Lungs

Tea Name: Nourishing, Healing, and Strengthening Chinese Herbal tea for the lungs (and cooling) Traditional Chinese Name: 羅漢果雪梨茶 (luó hàn guǒ xuě lí chá) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and sour (You can read this article on the impact on your body of different food...

Cooling Snow Pears and Apples in a Chrysanthemum Tea

Tea Name: Cooling Snow Pears and Apples in a Chrysanthemum Tea Traditional Chinese Name: 雪梨蘋果菊花清熱茶 (xuě lí píng guǒ jú huā qīng rè chá)  Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and sour (You can read this article on the impact on your body of different food tastes!) For more...

Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese herbal pork broth

Soup Name: Green radish with carrots & corn in a Chinese Herbal Pork Broth Traditional Chinese Name: 紅青蘿蔔湯 (hóng qing luóbo tang) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and savory For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.My parents came home last night from a cruise...

Hot and slightly spicy Korean Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (soup)

Soup Name: Korean  Kimchi and Tofu Jjigae (Soup) Nature:  Cool (although could be warmer depending on how spicy you make it, but this is driven by the cooling white radish and tofu) Taste:  Sweet, Salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.I know there's a...

Chinese-Styled Cream of Corn Egg Drop Soup

Tea Name: Chinese-Styled Cream of Corn and Egg Drop Soup Chinese Name:  玉米湯 (yù mǐ tāng)   Nature:  Warm Taste:  Sweet, Salty For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.There are as many versions of a Chinese-styled corn and egg drop soup as there are likely ABC...