Ingredient Name:  Smilax Root, Greenbriers Root, Toe Folk Ling, Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae

Traditional Chinese Name: 土茯苓(tǔ fú líng)

What is this?

  • The root of a climbing flowering plant that produces small berries
  • Extremely resilent plant that usually growns in shrub shapes and climbs on to other trees or surfaces
  • The plant grows in tropic and subtropic areas
  • In China alone, there are 80 different types of smilaxes
  • Used in various Chinese soups and dishes (such as Gwei Ling Go “The Tortoise Jelly”)

How do I prepare it?

  • Rinse with warm water and blanch in boiling water before use
  • Cut into large cubes to soups

Where can I buy this?

  • This is available in most Asian supermarkets
  • Can be purchased both fresh and frozen
  • Also available in dried form in Asian Herbal stores and sold in sliced pieces

What is the cost

  • A bag of 15 large pieces of $20 HKD

Any benefits?

  • Excellent for treatment of gout
  • It is said to help with extraction of excess phlegm and dry throat

Any precautions?

  • Must be blanched before usage

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