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.

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.  

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!

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.  

Cough Reducing and Lung Nourishing Tea

Monk Fruit and Chrysanthemum Flower Herbal Tea (for dry coughs and yin deficiency)

Luo Han Guo and Apricot Kernals with Pork Shank Soup

Luo Han Guo in Watercress Soup