We’ve been battling lingering dry coughs in our house lately—you know, the kind that leaves your throat feeling scratchy and restless. The weather has been all over the place, so today I reached for a remedy from my childhood: Snow Fungus Dessert Soup (糖水).
What Is Snow Fungus Dessert Soup?
It’s a light, slightly sweet Chinese dessert soup (糖水) made with snow fungus (also called white fungus or Tremella). You simmer it slowly with a few other ingredients until it turns soft and almost silky. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is a “Yin-nourishing” dish. Basically, it helps moisten the body and soothe internal dryness—which is exactly what you need when a cold or the dry indoor heating leaves you with a raspy cough.
My mom made this for us whenever we weren’t feeling our best. Back then, I didn’t care about the health benefits; I just liked that it was warm, sweet, and had a bit of a jelly texture. Now that I’m a mom with two boys of my own, I finally get why she made it so often. It’s become a staple in my kitchen, too.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this kind of soup is considered a yin-nourishing dish. Snow fungus is known for supporting lung health and keeping the skin hydrated (some people call it a natural beauty food). I add lotus seeds and lily bulbs because they help calm the mind, which is great for those days when everything feels like a bit too much. Goji berries and red dates add a natural sweetness and are often used to support your blood and overall energy (Qi). It’s especially helpful for those dry, scratchy coughs that tend to hang around long after a cold is gone.
There are so many variations of this dessert soup. Everyone seems to have their own way of making it depending on what they grew up with or what their body needs at the time. I usually add lotus seeds, goji berries, red dates, apricot kernels, lily bulbs, and peach resin because they all work toward the same goal: nourishing the lungs and skin while calming the body. It might sound like a long list, but once everything’s soaked and prepped, it all goes into one pot and simmers together until it’s soft and slightly syrupy.
I only add a little bit of rock sugar as the red dates and goji berries already give it a gentle sweetness. The texture is light and jelly-like from the snow fungus and peach resin, and it’s such a nice change from heavier desserts. My family loves it!
Ingredients I Used (and Why):
Here’s what went into my version:
- Snow Fungus (Tremella) – Moistens the lungs, nourishes yin, and is often called a “beauty food” because of its skin-hydrating benefits. It gets soft and gelatinous when cooked—almost like a natural jelly.
- Lotus Seeds – Neutral in nature, they help calm the mind, nourish the spleen, and support digestion. Great for kids and grown-ups alike.
- Goji Berries – Slightly sweet and often used to nourish the liver and kidneys, support vision, and boost energy. They’re also said to help with dry eyes and general fatigue.
- Red Dates (Jujubes) – A go-to in Chinese cooking and herbal soups. They help tonify qi (energy), nourish blood, and add a natural sweetness.
- Lily Bulbs – Gently moistening and calming. Used to support lung health, nourish yin qi and calm the heart and mind.
- Apricot Kernels – These are used in moderation, as recent studies have found they contain amygdalin—a compound that can be toxic in large amounts. They’re helpful for relieving cough and asthma and moisturizing the lungs. You usually see them in pairs: southern almonds (sweeter) and northern almonds (more bitter).
- Peach Resin – A jelly-like substance that comes from the bark of peach trees. In TCM, it’s used to nourish yin and improve skin and digestion. It looks fancy but is easy to prepare with a good soak and rinse.
If you’ve never made it before, don’t be intimidated. Most of these ingredients are easy to find at Asian grocery stores or online. Just remember to soak the snow fungus and peach resin ahead of time (they expand quite a bit!). Also, go easy on the apricot kernels—they have a strong flavour, and you only need a small amount to get the benefits.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about TCM and really appreciate how these ingredients work together. Lily bulbs and lotus seeds are calming; red dates and goji berries are great for replenishing your energy (Qi); and snow fungus and peach resin help moisten the lungs and skin. It’s the kind of dessert that feels more like a quiet remedy than a sugary treat.
Instructions To Make:
- Soak first: I soaked the snow fungus until it expanded (usually 1–2 hours), then trimmed the hard middle part and tore it into small pieces. The peach resin also needs a long soak and a good rinse to remove any impurities.
- Simmer low and slow: Everything went into a big pot with water—enough to cover it all and then some. I brought it to a boil, then lowered the heat and let it simmer gently for about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Sweeten gently: I didn’t add rock sugar this time—just let the natural sweetness of the red dates and goji berries come through. But you can add a little if you like it sweeter.
Thermomix Shortcut
If you have a Thermomix, this part is super easy. After soaking and prepping the ingredients as usual, I just tossed everything into the bowl, added enough water to cover, and set it to:
60 minutes / 98°C / Reverse Stir
No need to babysit it. Once the time’s up, it’s ready to serve—everything comes out tender and infused with flavour. Perfect for busy days when you still want to make something nourishing.
Regardless which way you make it, the result is a light, soothing soup with jelly-like textures, mild sweetness, and a feeling of comfort that’s hard to describe. It’s not flashy or fancy—but it feels like home. And after a couple of bowls, I swear our throats felt less dry.
These are the kinds of recipes I might not have fully appreciated as a kid, but now, as a mom, I completely understand. I understand why my mom made this for us when we were sick, and why she always had these dried ingredients stashed in the pantry. It’s food as care. Food that heals slowly and quietly. I love that I can now make this for them the way my mom made it for us. It’s funny how these little traditions come back around.
If your house is also dealing with dry coughs or if you’re just looking for something comforting and nourishing, I definitely recommend giving this a try. You don’t have to know all the TCM theory behind it—just know that it’s gentle, supportive, and made with intention.
Simply Salt & Soul
The Salt (The Science): That “jelly” texture in snow fungus and peach resin comes from polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates). From a nutritional perspective, these act as a “lubricant” for your mucous membranes. They create a soothing film over the throat and gut, which is why a scratchy cough often feels better almost immediately after a bowl.
The Soul (The Wellness): Snow fungus is famous as a “beauty food,” but in holistic wellness, we know that looking your best starts with internal hydration. When we’re “dry”—whether it’s scratchy skin or a parched throat—it’s easy to feel run down and stressed. This soup is about replenishing those reserves from the inside out. Hydrating your body properly is a simple, practical way to help you feel more balanced and grounded, especially during a busy week.