Snow Pears (Dried)

by LadyTong | Dec 29, 2010 | Ingredients | 0 comments

Ingredient Name: Snow Pears or Pyrus Nivalis (dried)

Chinese Name: 雪梨幹 (xuě lí gàn) or 梨干 (lí gàn)

This is a great natural additive to any soup or drink, although it is more commonly used in drinks rather than soups. You can do a combination of dried or fresh snow pears in both soups and drinks and this is almost a great staple to have “just in case” you feel like making a soup but the stores are closed or it’s a typhoon or snow storm. And of course, no one is to stop you from eating it if you’re in dire hunger.

What is this?

An edible fruit grown from pear trees
It is usually round and found to grow well in cooler temperatures
The snow pear is often firm in handling and is often associated with being on the more sour and tangy side of taste
Snow pears are known to be a “cooling” fruit
It is often dried with the skin and seeds and dried in disks the size of diameter of the pear

How do I prepare it?

Wash the dried snow pears in warm running water
Use directly in soups and drinks

Where can I buy this?

Commonly found in wet marts in Hong Kong from the herbalist or dried food vendor
It is sometimes available in packages in supermarkets (although more as a snack than as an additive to soups or drinks)

What is the cost?

Dried snow pears are very affordable costing around $1-2 HKD for 2-3 slices

Any benefits?

Pears have 0 fat and provide a healthy intake of natural sugars
Pears are also packed with Vitamin A, C and E1
They contain excellent amounts of copper and potassium and are packed with carbohydrates
Pears also are the least allergenic of all fruits and is often found as a first foods for babies
They are said to assist with the lower of cholesterol and high blood pressure
Pears are excellent laxatives due to their high fiber content

Any precautions?

Pears, especially Snow Pears, are known to be a “cooling” food
Women who are pregnant or menstruating should take caution when consuming Snow Pears

Any substitutes?

“Crystal” pears can also be substituted for Snow Pears in soups
Apples are also an ideal substitute

Additional Information?

Dried Snow Pears store very well in a sealed container
They can be kept in refrigeration for up to 3 months

Dried Lily Flower

by LadyTong | Nov 8, 2010 | Uncategorized | 5 comments

Ingredient Name: Dried lily flower

Traditional Chinese Name: 金針花 (jin zhen hua)

What is this?

This is literally the dried petals of lily flowers
When cooked into soups or stir-fried, it remains closed (as pictured above)
It has a spongy texture and an earthy, slightly sweet taste (similar to golden mushrooms)

How do I prepare it?

Soak in warm water for 30 minutes
Cut off any hardened ends
Rinse well before use

Where can I buy this?

Dried lily flowers can be purchased at almost all Asian dried food shops.

What is the cost?

The cost is very affordable. The amount pictured above cost less than $2 CAD.

Any benefits?

Eating lily flowers is said to help relieve liver stagnation
Lily flower tea can help to moisten lungs and alleviate coughs

Any precautions?

None that we know of

Loquat Leaf (Dried)

by LadyTong | Jun 3, 2010 | Ingredients | 1 comment

Ingredient Name: Loquat Leaf (Dried)

Traditional Chinese Name: 枇杷葉 (pípá yè), 琵琶葉 (pípá yè)

What is this?

The dried leaf of the loquat leaf plant (which produces an oval orange fruit that has a very large seed)
The leaves are usually 10-25 cm in length and dark green in color with a leathery texture
The loquat fruit is very common in Chinese and Japanese cultures

How do I prepare it?

The leaves are normally bought dried and pre-cut
Simply rinse in warm water before usage

Where can I buy this?

Most herbal shops will carry this
Wet marts in Hong Kong will also sometimes carry this

What is the cost?

Extremely affordable
30 g cost around $5 HKD

Any benefits?

Leaves are said to soothe the digestive and respiratory systems
They also aid in helping your body release anti-oxidants (to reduce aging)
Can help skin inflammation if applied topically

Any precautions?

Avoid eating the seeds of the loquat fruit (and young leaves) as it is carcinogenic and releases cyanide when digested (although in low amounts)

Resources

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/loquat-leaf.html

Chrysanthemum (Dried)

by LadyTong | Feb 16, 2010 | Ingredients | 0 comments

Chrysanthemum (Dried)

Ingredient Name:

Chrysanthemums, Mums, Chrysanths

Traditional Chinese Name:

菊花 (jú huā)

This ingredient is cooling and bitter sweet.

I’m a huge fan of this dried herb! You can find it commonly used in Chinese restaurants as a tea which you can order, at supermarkets as bulk, at Asian herbal shops, and even in some western herbal tea blends. When seeped, it turns the liquid into a bright clear yellow. You can actually eat the flowers if you’d like, but they do disintegrate quite a bit and can be difficult to drink with all that stuff floating around 🙂

The chrysanthemum flower is widely known as a cooling ingredient in both Chinese food and Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you’ve got lots of “hot air” (yeet hay) or feeling very heaty, this is the go to herbal drink. It’s actually very common in Hong Kong to find chrysanthemum bottled or boxed drinks.

This is a perennial flower plant that has many variations (different colours such as white, pinks, yellows) in various shapes and sizes. It was first cultivated in China for herbal properties and is used in teas, drinks, desserts and various other Chinese dishes. It is often purchased dried for consumption and has a very distinct taste and scent.

How do I prepare it?

You can rinse in warm water first as sometimes there are bugs floating around, but not too long as not to seep out the flavours.No other preparation needed.

What is the cost?

The price will range from a few dollars to tens of dollars depending on the size, make, and brand of the dried flowers
There are smaller full buds, which tend to be more expensive, or the shredded bloomed ones, which are cheaper
In general, one tub of 60 g of dried loose flowers can cost around $8 CAD

Any benefits?

This ingredient is considered cooling and great to remove and eliminate excess heat and heat from the body
It is particularly targeted to the liver (eyes) and lungs
It’s often used to help with fever, colds, and headaches
It tends to have a cleansing effect by clearing heat and drying dampness in the body
This goes will with honey (added in after you’ve boiled or steeped the tea)

Any precautions?

It is cooling, so be careful if you’re cold, feeling cold, or have excess yin
Not suggested as part of postpartum or confinement consumption as it’s cooling

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