The apricot kernels...
If you’ve ever enjoyed a comforting bowl of Chinese soup, you may have noticed small white seeds floating gently in the broth. I certainly have! These humble-looking ingredients are known as apricot kernels, or Xing Ren (杏仁), and they hold a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). First recorded over a thousand years ago in the ancient herbal text Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica, apricot kernels have been valued for both their culinary and therapeutic uses across Northern and Western China.
Despite their mild taste, apricot kernels are powerful when it comes to supporting the body — especially the lungs and digestion. In TCM, they are commonly used to soothe coughs, ease breathing, and gently moisten dryness in the body. What many people don’t realize is that there are actually two types of apricot kernels used in Chinese cuisine and medicine: the North and South varieties, each with its own unique properties and applications.
From nourishing dessert soups to medicinal-style broths for cough relief, apricot kernels have remained a staple in Chinese kitchens for generations. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between the two types, their benefits in TCM, how to use them safely, and when they may not be suitable for everyone.
There are 2 types of apricot kernals
South apricot kernels (南杏 Nán xìng / Sweet apricot kernels)
- Larger, plumper, oval-shaped
- Sweet in flavour, neutral in nature
- The gentle one — primarily used to moisten the Lungs and nourish Yin
- Safe enough to use freely in cooking and for all ages
- The foundation of the pair; can be used alone if needed
- This is the one that is often found in desserts and sweet teas
North apricot kernels (北杏 Běi xìng / Bitter apricot kernels)
- Smaller, flatter, slightly heart-shaped
- Bitter and slightly warm in nature
- The medicinal one — more strongly descends Lung Qi, stops coughs, disperses phlegm, and relieves constipation
- Slightly toxic due to the presence of amygdalin; cooking removes the toxin. The conventional dosage is 4.5–9g. Use cautiously with infants.
- The traditional ratio for soups is approximately 3 parts South to 1 part North.
- Most of these are preprocessed (parboiled) before they are sold
How do I prepare it?
Apricot kernels can usually be found in Asian supermarkets or herbal shops, often sold mixed (North and South together) or separately. When buying, look for kernels that are clean, dry, and free from strong odors or moisture. The South apricot kernels are typically larger, plumper, and oval-shaped, while the North apricot kernels are smaller, flatter, and slightly heart-shaped. It’s helpful to label them at home if you keep both types so you can easily tell them apart.
Most apricot kernels sold for cooking have already been safely pre-processed, especially the North variety. Before using, simply rinse them under water to remove any surface dust. There’s no need to soak them for long — they can go straight into soups, teas, or dessert broths. For longer simmered soups, adding them at the beginning allows their nourishing properties to gently infuse into the broth.
Store apricot kernels in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dry place. They keep well for several months and are easy to have on hand for nourishing soups and cough remedies.
Where can I buy it?
- You can buy these online or in local Asian supermarkets. They are a pretty common ingredient.
- I buy mine from both Souperwell (you can click here for apricot kernels) or T&T in Toronto and other specialty herbalists.
What is the cost?
- On average, a pack of mixed north and south apricot kernels costs around $4.99 CAD for 150 g (though it can vary depending on size and quality)
Any benefits?
🤍 Moistens the Lung — the go-to ingredient for dry cough, dry throat, and autumn dryness. South kernels gently nourish Lung Yin; use regularly in soups for cumulative effect.
🤍 Descends Lung Qi and stops cough — the North kernel actively moves Qi downward, addressing cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Together, North and South cover both moistening and movement.
🤍 Relieves dry constipation — because Lung and Large Intestine are paired organs in TCM, apricot kernels moisten both ends of the same channel. A gentle, food-safe way to support bowel regularity.
Any precautions?
⚠️ Pregnancy — avoid North kernels — Bei Xing is medicinal-grade. South kernels only during pregnancy, and skip them entirely in the first trimester if unsure.
⚠️ Never eat raw — always cook them. Simmering neutralises the amygdalin compound in the North kernel that makes it mildly toxic when uncooked.
⚠️ Respect the ratio — 4 parts South to 1 part North (as safest). More North is not more effective — the South carries the nourishment, the North is just the activator.
Apricot Kernels
I have also tried these apricot kernels from SouperWell, both her soup packs and individual ingredients are reliable and also sit in my pantry! Canadian supplier!
Hello. Someone Told me that when making soup you must have Both sweet and bitter aprocot kernal or else there will be poison. Have you heard of this. I wonder what the ratio would be.
Dear babyblue,
The direct translation is “South” Apricot Kernals (which are sweet) and “North” Apricot Kernals (which are bitter). Only the bitter ones are poisonous. In general, the combination is 3/4 “south” or “sweet” and 1/4 “north” or “bitter”. The south or sweet ones are often the ones that are ground up for consumption. There is no harm to using only “South” or “sweet” kernals, but for soups, the Chinese usually combine both. I hope this helps. Lisa
Hi there,
I am curious if they are safe to add to soups or sweet soups (tong sui) during pregnancy. I had no idea that the the north ones are poisonous! I always knew that both must be added to together so that’s what I did with a tong sui that I made a couple nights ago. I also did not know that there should be ratio! I always did equal ratio of both. A little worried about it being not safe for pregnancy now!
If I were a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, now I’d say “Kowabunga, dude!”
Would it be safe to add Apricot Kernals to soups during pregnancy??? I always knew that both must be added to together. A little worried about it being not safe for pregnancy now!
Can you response as soon as possible?
Where do you purchase the brown bags filled with the TCM herbs?
Dear Lucy, I have a friend who runs souperwell in Toronto. https://www.souperwell.com/
You can get the soup packs I’ve been showing from here. You may have to ask where it’s being shipped to. Is this what you meant? Or did you want something else? Where are you based? Lisa