Description
Six Herbs Nourishing Dessert Soup (Qing Bu Liang) 六味清补凉 is a classic Cantonese traditional nourishing dessert soup.
The soup is clear and light, with a rich, chewy texture. It can be served warm or chilled.
Qing Bu Liang (清补凉) — The Gentle, Cooling, Nourishing, and Restoring Balance Dessert Soup
Qing Bu Liang is a sweet, cooling dessert soup designed to do exactly what its name promises : refresh, nourish, and cool. It is a beloved dessert soup / tong sui (糖水) across Cantonese, Hainanese, Guangxi, Malaysian, and Singaporean food cultures, with each region putting its own spin on the base recipe. In Singapore, it is known as Cheng Tng; in Vietnam, as sâm bổ lượng.
It is not just a dessert; it is a gentle, restorative tonic traditionally used to clear heat, drain dampness, calm the mind, and replenish moisture in the body — making it suitable for regular enjoyment, especially in hot, humid weather when the body feels heavy, heated, and depleted.
Who Is This Dessert Soup For ?
This soup is best suited for individuals who need gentle nourishment without being overly heavy. It is ideal for:
· Hot summer days, heatwaves, humid weather — cooling, refreshing, and thirst-quenching.
· Internal heat : late nights, breakouts, bad breath, mouth ulcers, irritability, have eaten a lot of fried or spicy food.
· Fatigue & late nights : feel run-down, have been staying up late.
· Restlessness or poor sleep : irritability, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep due to heat or stress.
· Dryness or yin deficiency — dry cough, dry throat, dry skin.
· Weak digestion or fatigue — poor appetite, feeling run-down, or recovering from illness.
· Sun-flushed, dry, or itchy skin after long and warm outdoor activity.
· Anyone looking for a gentle, hydrating or skin-nourishing treat.
· Mild dampness — puffiness, water retention, or a heavy feeling.
· Convalescents or the elderly: A gentle, easy-to-digest dessert to support recovery and energy, but portions should be moderate because of the sugar content.
Ingredients
Brown sugar, Dried Longan, Coix seed, Dried Lily bulb, Lotus seed, Snow fungus / Tremella, Sterculia lychnophora (fei da hai) & Snow lotus seed
Health Benefits
Clears heat, nourishing the skin and body, moisten the lungs, nourishes the yin, relieves dampness, quenches thirst, promotes hydration. It’s great for cooling down in summer.
· Cooling and detoxifying — helping to clear internal “heat” (signs: irritability, thirst, sore throat, breakouts).
· Dampness-draining — reduce puffiness, water retention, and a feeling of heaviness.
· Moistening and hydrating — supporting the lungs, throat, and skin.
· Calming and sleep-supporting — easing restlessness and promoting deeper rest.
Snow Fungus (Tremella) — Known as the “poor man’s bird’s nest,” it is prized for its cooling, hydrating, and skin-nourishing properties. Rich in plant-based polysaccharides, it helps moisten the lungs, soothe a dry throat, and support skin elasticity.
Coix Seed (Job’s Tears) — The soup’s dampness-draining workhorse. It strengthens the spleen, helps reduce water retention and puffiness, and is traditionally included for anyone feeling heavy or sluggish.
Lotus Seed — Traditionally used to calm the spirit (An Shen), improve sleep quality, and relieve restlessness. It also helps strengthen digestion and supports heart health.
Dried Lily Bulb — Sweet and slightly cooling, it moistens the lungs (helpful for dry coughs), clears heat, and calms the mind to promote restful sleep and reduce irritability.
Sterculia lychnophora (Fei Da Hai / Pang Da Hai) — A traditional Chinese medicine ingredient with a strong cooling effect. It clears heat from the lungs, soothes sore throats and hoarseness, detoxifies, and lubricates the intestines. It is especially useful for anyone dealing with throat discomfort or internal heat.
Snow Lotus Seed — A mucilage-rich ingredient traditionally used for hydration and skin support. Gentle and soothing, it is often included in beauty-focused dessert soups.
Dried Longan — Provides natural sweetness while calming the mind, improving sleep, and nourishing the heart. It adds depth and warmth to the soup’s flavor profile.
Brown Sugar — Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness and is considered warming in TCM, helping to balance the cooling nature of the other ingredients.
Precautions
- Avoid during acute colds, cough, loose stools / diarrhea.
- Cold / Weak Constitution : Not suitable for those often feeling cold, having cold hands / feet or a cold stomach. Consume this soup with caution, as some ingredients are cooling.
- Avoid during menstruation and pregnancy. Coix seed is relatively cold and cool in nature and Sterculia lychnophora is very cooling and can stimulate the uterus. Pregnant women should avoid it.
- Contains fungus / mushroom (snow fungus / tremella and poria)
- Blood-Thinning Medications : Snow fungus may have mild blood-thinning effects; consult a doctor if you are on anticoagulants.
Consultation with a physician / healthcare professional is advised prior to consumption for pregnant women, those with diabetes, any ongoing medical conditions, known allergies, or individuals on medication, especially when you have underlying health conditions.
** Disclaimer : Not a substitute for medicine. Individual results may vary.
Cooking Instructions
Mini Pack : 1-2 servings
1. Soak Sterculia lychnophora & snow lotus for 5-6 hours, and snow fungus separately for 30 minutes in advance. Pick out and rinse away any impurities, drain well. Rinse all ingredients.
2. Place all the ingredients in a pot with 800ml of water (adjust to your preference). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer gently for 1.5 hours, until all ingredients are soft and tender.
3. Add brown sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring until it is completely dissolved.
Regular Pack : 3-4 servings
1. Soak Sterculia lychnophora & snow lotus for 5-6 hours, and snow fungus separately for 30 minutes in advance. Pick out and rinse away any impurities, drain well. Rinse all ingredients.
2. Place all the ingredients in a pot with 1800ml of water (adjust to your preference). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer gently for 1.5 hours, until all ingredients are soft and tender.
3. Add brown sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring until it is completely dissolved.
If you prefer it cold, let it cool, seal in a container, and chill in the fridge for 2 hours — it’s even more refreshing!
Tips
· Serve Hot : Soothing stomach, cooler days.
· Serve Chilled : Refreshment, hot summer days.
· Adjust the water amount to your liking – use less for a thicker, richer drink, or more for a lighter version.
· Rock sugar : Swap with brown sugar or honey or or omit entirely. Sweetness is totally adjustable!
· Diabetes or blood sugar control : Use stevia of rock sugar, or omit entirely.
