We’ve been dealing with lingering dry coughs in our house lately, the kind that leaves your throat scratchy and uncomfortable. The weather has been all over the place, so I did what my mom always did and made snow fungus dessert soup, 糖水.

So What Is It?

It’s a light, slightly sweet Chinese dessert soup made with snow fungus, also called white fungus or Tremella. You simmer it slowly with a few other ingredients until it softens into a silky, almost jelly-like texture.

In TCM, it’s considered a yin-nourishing dish, meaning it’s used to help moisten the body and ease that dry, scratchy feeling that can show up with things like a lingering cough. My mom made this for us often when we were young. Back then, I didn’t think much about it. I just liked that it was warm, sweet, and had that unique texture. Now that I’m a mom with two boys of my own, I completely understand why she reached for it so often. It’s become a staple in my kitchen too.

Although this is a beautiful, simple dessert, and nourishing, it’s not something to overdo. Many of the ingredients used here, like snow fungus, goji berries, red dates, and lily bulbs, are considered food-medicinals in TCM. They’re often used for their gentle, supportive properties, but like most things in TCM, they work best in balance. It’s always best to check with a qualified practitioner to see if it suits your individual constitution.

For most people, having it occasionally is fine, but depending on your overall health and digestion, it may not be something to have too often. This is especially something to be mindful of if you tend to notice heaviness or sluggish digestion after eating, loose stools, a “weighed down” feeling, feeling more congested or phlegmy, or a low appetite with a sense of fullness.

What I Put In Mine

There are so many versions of this soup, everyone has their own depending on what they grew up with or what their body needs. Here’s what goes into mine:

• Snow Fungus (Tremella) — Moistens the lungs and nourishes yin. It gets soft and gelatinous when cooked, almost like a natural jelly. Some people call it a beauty food because of its skin hydrating benefits.
• Lotus Seeds — Neutral and calming. Good for the spleen and digestion and honestly great for kids and adults alike.
• Goji Berries — Slightly sweet, good for energy, liver, and kidneys. They also add a natural sweetness to the soup so you don’t need much sugar.
• Red Dates (Jujubes) — A staple in Chinese cooking. They tonify qi, nourish blood, and make everything taste a little better naturally.
• Lily Bulbs — Gently moistening and calming. Good for lung health and settling an overactive mind — which some days is just as important as the cough.
• Apricot Kernels — Helpful for relieving cough and moisturizing the lungs but use these in moderation. Raw or excessive intake is not appropriate, because they naturally contain compounds that can be harmful in high amounts. That’s why in practice, they are always used in moderation and often under guidance. A small amount goes a long way.
• Peach Resin — This one looks a little fancy but it’s easy to prep with a good soak. It’s a jelly-like substance from peach tree bark and in TCM it’s used to nourish yin and support skin and digestion.

I only add a little rock sugar at the end as the red dates and goji berries already bring enough natural sweetness. The texture is light and jelly-like and it’s such a nice change from heavier desserts.

How to Make It

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.

Soak first — Snow fungus needs about one to two hours to expand fully. Trim the hard middle part and tear it into smaller pieces. The peach resin needs a long soak and a good rinse to clean it up.

Simmer low and slow — Everything goes into a big pot with enough water to cover it all. Bring it to a boil then lower the heat and let it simmer gently for about one and a half to two hours.

Sweeten at the end — I didn’t add rock sugar this time and let the dates and goji berries do the work. But add a little if you like it sweeter.

Thermomix Shortcut

If you have a Thermomix this part is easy. After soaking and prepping everything as usual just add it all to the bowl with enough water to cover and set it to: 60 minutes / 98°C / Reverse Stir

No babysitting required. Everything comes out cooked and ready to go — perfect for busy days when you still want to make something nourishing. The result either way is a light, soothing soup with that jelly-like texture, mild sweetness, and a warmth that’s hard to explain until you’ve had a bowl. After a couple of servings I swear our throats start feeling better.

These are the kinds of recipes I didn’t fully appreciate as a kid. But now as a mom I get it completely. I understand why my mom always had these dried ingredients stashed in the pantry, why she made this every time someone’s throat felt dry. It’s food as care, and I love that I get to make it for my boys the same way she made it for us. Funny how these things come back around.

If your house is dealing with dry coughs or you’re just looking for something comforting, give this one a try.

Simply Salt & Soul

The Salt (The Science): That jelly-like texture in snow fungus and peach resin comes from polysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates. In food science terms, these compounds are known for their ability to hold water and create a soft, gel-like consistency. That’s part of why the soup feels so soothing on the throat and easy on digestion for many people.

The Soul (The Wellness): There’s something about making food the way your mom made it that hits differently. It’s not just the ingredients, it’s the memory, the intention, the fact that someone once made this for you when you didn’t feel well and now you’re doing the same. That’s really what this soup is about for me. Less about the TCM theory and more about the quiet act of taking care of the people you love and just wanting them to feel better. Some things don’t need much more explanation than that.