Ching Bo Leung Recipe With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯 is an excellent all-season soup. This traditional recipe boosts the digestive system. It also removes dampness from the body according to TCM principles. This Traditional Chinese Medicine soup includes six inexpensive Chinese herbs common to Cantonese households and can be made in just 90 minutes.
> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Chinese Ching Bo Leung Soup Recipe
This Ching Bo Leung recipe teaches you how to easily make a healthy Chinese sweet soup with six inexpensive ingredients. It does not take long to boil. You can make the Traditional Chinese herbal soup base vegetarian. Adding carrots and sweet corn is a fantastic way to add sweetness to Chinese herbal soup recipes. Pair it with large chunks of pork bones; the taste is delicious and soothing.
Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!
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- > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Chinese Ching Bo Leung Soup Recipe
- What is Ching Bo Leung Soup?
- Health Benefits & TCM Properties
- Ingredients and Substitutes
- Instructions
- How to Make Ching Bo Leung: Step-by-Step Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Other Delicious Savory Soup Recipes
- What To Serve With Traditional Chinese Soups
- > Recipe Card
- Ching Bo Leung With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯
What is Ching Bo Leung Soup?
Ching Po Leung recipe is one of the most popular herbal pork bone soups in Cantonese cuisine in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau for its healing properties.
Ching Po Leung (清補涼, Qīng bǔ liáng) in Chinese characters translates to 'refreshing and cooling.'
- 清, Qīng - Removes heat and strengthens the Spleen.
- 補, Bǔ - Benefits and nourishes the body.
- 涼, Liáng - Moistens and improves Yin.
This famous soup in Cantonese cuisine is suitable year-round and removes dampness, balances spleen dysfunction, and soothes the effects of hot and humid climates.
Qing Bu Liang soup is sometimes referred to as Six Flavour Soup (六味湯,Liùwèi Tāng). Like adrenal fatigue soup, Si Shen Tang 四神湯 which consists of four main ingredients, Ching Po Leung Soup mix consists of six main ingredients!
As the name suggests, Ching Bo Leung (清補涼) literally means 'refreshing and cooling' - making it perfect for China's notorious post-summer heat periods. Master traditional cooling techniques for heat waves to understand when soups like this provide maximum benefit during unexpected seasonal temperature spikes.
Health Benefits & TCM Properties
Nowadays, cooking a pot of nutritious soup is very convenient to support good health and boost essential fluids. Dried ingredients are readily available at Asian supermarkets and Chinese herbalists in prepackaged Ching Bo Leung packets.
Master traditional cooling techniques for heat waves to understand when soups like Ching Bo Leung provide maximum benefit.
I store my dried herbs in an airtight container.
Dried Chinese Yams (淮山, Huáishān) - Dioscorea Polystachya is sweet, neutral and targets the kidney, lung and spleen meridians. Huai Shan helps individuals with spleen deficiencies 脾虚, reduces blood sugar and pressure, improves vitality and is anti-inflammatory.
Solomon's Seal Rhizome (玉竹, Yù zhú) - Polygonatum Odoratum nurtures Yin, moistens and promotes body fluid, and quenches thirst. Treats fever, dry mouth, and inflammation. Polygonatum Odoratum nature is cooling and is part of the stomach and lung meridian.
While Ching Bo Leung uses these herbs for general cooling and dampness removal, our Sea Coconut Chinese Yam Conch PMS Relief Soup combines Chinese yam with sea coconut specifically for menstrual health and hormonal balance.
Poria Cocos (茯苓, Fúlíng) - Wolfiporia cocos is a mushroom that grows on the roots of Pine trees. It is neutral in nature and tastes sweet-bland. It helps to reduce water retention and dampness. Its healing properties and medicinal benefits include calming the heart and spirit, improving and strengthening the Spleen and stomach, and resolving phlegm.
Dried Lily Bulbs (百合, Bǎihé) - Lilium lancifolium nature is cold and helps lower heat, relieve coughs, dry throats and other respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc. Its properties treat restlessness and irritability and promote restful sleep to improve overall health.
Dried Lotus Seeds (蓮子, Liánzǐ) - Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae, dried lotus seeds are sweet and promote the Spleen, kidney and heart. Those suffering from insomnia will find comfort in the 'de-heating' properties of lotus seeds. Lotus seeds also reduce hemorrhaging. Enjoy this absolutely delicious Green Mung Bean Dessert Soup that quenches thirst and detoxes the liver! Lotus seeds and lily bulbs also shine in peach gum dessert soup with snow fungus, a beauty-focused sweet soup that emphasizes skin hydration and collagen support.
Euryale Ferox (芡實, Qiànshí) - Fox nut is neutral and helps to tonifies the Spleen, promote digestion and restrain abnormal discharge of fluids. This herb stabilizes, binds, and is used with other herbs to treat a specific "deficiency." Euryale Ferox is rich in starch, fat, protein, calcium, iron, etc.
Most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies can be purchased at your local Asian markets or Chinese grocery stores or Amazon Online.
Optional Add-On Ingredients
In addition to the six main ingredients, consider adding the following Chinese herbs to create your signature herbal soup packet to suit your constituents. The extra ingredients are unnecessary but can significantly improve the flavour and texture.
These additional herbs can enhance your Ching Bo Leung recipe and provide extra therapeutic benefits for your TCM soup.
Raw Coix Seeds (生薏米 Shēng yìmǐ) - Job's tear barley are cold in nature and are excellent at removing dampness, wind and heat. Springtime is most suitable for making soups and beverages with pearl barley, such as Lemon Coix Seed Water 檸檬薏米水. Raw coix seeds invigorate the Spleen, relieve diarrhea, lighten the body, nourish Qi and intestinal pain.
Glehnia Root (沙參, Shā shēn) - Glehnia Littoralis is a tonic herb used for Yin deficiency. It is bitter and sweet in taste and cool in nature. Bei Sha Shen moisturizes the lungs and eliminates phlegm. Sha Shen targets the lung and stomach meridians. TCM doctors prescribe Glehnia Root to treat dry cough, dry throat, and red tongue.
Dried Longan Pulp (龍眼肉, Lóngyǎn ròu) - Longan meat is also called 桂圓肉, Guìyuán ròu and is an edible fruit used to address blood deficiency in the heart and Spleen. The heart controls a person's mental well-being, including sleep quality. Blood deficiency can give rise to Qi deficiency. In TCM, blood produces Qi, and Qi promotes blood circulation. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and organic acids. Longan is naturally sweet and is delicious in Red Dates Longan Tea With Goji Berries 紅棗桂圓杞子茶 or in Silkie Chicken Soup with Cordyceps 蟲草花花膠响螺煲烏雞湯!
Carrots (紅蘿蔔, Hóng luóbo) - This Vitamin-rich root vegetable not only improves immunity but also improves eye fatigue, anemia and lowers blood pressure, improves metabolism and strengthens liver and stomach functions. Enjoy this absolutely delicious blistered carrot side dish in just 20 minutes.
Sweet Corn (粟米, Sùmǐ) - Fresh local corn nourishes Yin and blood. Corn helps clear heat, quench thirst, strengthens the stomach, harmonizes the stomach and calms the mind. Don't throw the corn silk (玉米絲, Yùmǐ sī) away. Corn silks enter the kidney, bladder, and gall bladder meridians and can treat hypertension, gout, and edema, soften masses and restore essence. Enjoy this absolutely delicious Air Fryer Spicy Miso Corn Ribs in 15 minutes.
Pork Ribs (豬骨, Zhū gǔ) - Pork ribs and pork bones boost a simple TCM soup. Pork bone soup is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Pork is also a rich source of niacin and thiamine, Vitamins B12 and B6, selenium, and zinc. Choose pork neck bones, shank or tenderloin for a less fatty option.
Here are a couple of spareribs root-forward dishes from the blog with which I am genuinely obsessed! Both these recipes are delicious and easy to make!
Other Pork Ribs Recipes
- Red Fermented Bean Curd Lotus Root Spareribs 南乳蓮藕炆排骨
- Honey Garlic Pork Ribs (Air Fry) 蒜子蜜汁骨
- Lotus Root Pork Bone Soup without Peanuts
Ingredients and Substitutes
Traditional Ching Bo Leung recipe uses six specific herbs that have been carefully selected by Cantonese grandmothers for centuries, each one playing a distinct role in creating the soup's legendary cooling and nourishing properties. These time-tested ingredients work together like a symphony. The sweet neutrality of Chinese yam balancing the cooling essence of Solomon's seal, while lotus seeds and lily bulbs add their own therapeutic notes to this ancient wellness recipe.
- Dried Chinese Yams 淮山
- Solomon's Seal Rhizome 玉竹
- Poria Cocos 茯苓
- Dried Lily Bulbs 百合
- Dried Lotus Seed 蓮子
- Euryale Ferox 芡實
Optional Ingredients:
- Raw Coix Seeds 生薏米
- Glehnia Root 沙參
- Dried Longan Pulp 龍眼肉
- Carrots 紅蘿蔔
- Sweet Corn 粟米
- Pork Ribs 豬骨
For daily digestive cleansing, pair Ching Bo Leung Chinese herbal soup recipe with our ayurvedic kitchari recipe for gentle detox support.
Most dry goods ingredients, tools, and supplies can be purchased at local Asian markets, Chinese grocery stores, or Amazon Online. Amazon Prime members receive free shipping and faster delivery times.
Instructions
How to Make Ching Bo Leung: Step-by-Step Recipe
Follow this authentic Ching Bo Leung method that transforms humble dried herbs into liquid medicine, a technique passed down through generations of Cantonese home cooks who understood that proper timing and gentle heat unlock each ingredient's healing potential.
The beauty of this TCM soup recipe lies not in complicated techniques but in patience, allowing the herbs to slowly release their essence while the pork bones contribute their rich, mineral-dense foundation to create a broth that both satisfies hunger and restores balance.
Soak the Ching Bo Leung herbs in cold water for 5-10 minutes to remove impurities. This traditional Chinese medicine preparation step ensures clean herb flavors.
Prepare vegetables by washing and cutting into 2-inch chunks. For authentic Ching Bo Leung, use carrots and sweet corn to add natural sweetness.
Wash the pork ribs, pork shank or tenderloin with cold water and pat dry with a kitchen paper towel. It is only necessary to cut the pork ribs into small pieces if your pot needs to be bigger.
Blanch pork ribs in boiling water to remove impurities, essential for clear Ching Bo Leung broth. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
Add sliced vegetables, parboiled pork bones and herbal ingredients into a clean, large stock pot not made of stainless steel like THIS Ceramic Pot or a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker to make Ching Bo Leung with pork rib soup.
Although not all Chinese herbs react with metal, it is best not to use a metal pot when making Chinese medicinal herbal soups.
Fill a large pot with enough cold filtered water to cover to make the clear soup stock. We used approximately 4 litres of cold water.
Bring Ching Bo Leung to high heat for 30 minutes, then reduce to gentle simmer for 60 minutes until herbs are tender.
Pro Tip: If you find your pot of soup is low in liquid, where most of the liquid has evaporated, add a bit of boiled hot water to this traditional Chinese herbal soup and continue cooking.
Skim off excess foam on the surface of the soup.
Season your traditional Chinese herbal soup with salt to taste. Serve hot for maximum Ching Bo Leung benefits.
Serve and enjoy.
Next time, if you find yourself short of time, make this six flavour soup recipe in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker in just 20 minutes (not counting natural release).
I guarantee this Ching Bo Leung recipe will become one of your favourite soups! Serve the cooked soup ingredients with Chilli Soy Dipping Sauce and complete a full meal.
Cooking Times
This traditional Cantonese soup recipe adapts well to different cooking methods while maintaining authentic Ching Bo Leung benefits.
- Stove Top - 90 minutes
- Slow cooker - 2 hours
- Pressure cooker - 20 minutes
Meal Prep
Batch cooking this Chinese herbal soup with pork recipe ensures you have healing TCM soup available throughout the week.
Chinese people love double-boiled soup boiled for a long time. The extra broth is a great way to warm up and absorb nutritious essence, vitamins and minerals.
One of the best ways to enjoy this Cantonese herbal soup is by making a big soup pot to last two to three days. Ching Bo Leung is excellent to sip throughout the day in a thermos during breakfast and lunch!
Store leftover Chinese herbal soup recipes in airtight containers, large mason jars or soup pots in the refrigerator for up to three days.
This Ching Bo Leung soup recipe provides deep liver detoxification, and for daily digestive cleansing, pair it with our ayurvedic kitchari recipe. Kitchari offers gentle, ongoing detox support that's perfect for maintenance between intensive herbal treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ching Bo Leung (清補涼) translates to "refreshing and cooling" in Chinese. This traditional Cantonese herbal soup removes dampness from the body and strengthens the spleen according to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.
Ching Bo Leung takes 90 minutes total to prepare: 10 minutes prep time plus 80 minutes cooking (30 minutes high heat, then 60 minutes gentle simmering). Using a pressure cooker reduces cooking time to just 20 minutes.
When you need the digestive benefits of traditional Chinese soup but only have 15 minutes, this easy daikon tofu kombu miso soup delivers spleen support and dampness removal through simple Japanese ingredients-a quick weeknight alternative to longer-cooking herbal soups.
Yes! Make vegetarian Ching Bo Leung by omitting pork ribs and using vegetable broth or plain water. Add shiitake mushrooms for umami flavor while maintaining all traditional TCM benefits from the six herbs.
Find Ching Bo Leung ingredients at Asian grocery stores, Chinese herbal medicine shops, Amazon or online retailers. Look for pre-packaged herb mixes labeled "清補涼" or buy individual herbs: Chinese yam, Solomon's seal, Poria cocos, lily bulbs, lotus seeds, and Euryale ferox.
The six essential Ching Bo Leung herbs are: Chinese yam (淮山), Solomon's seal (玉竹), Poria cocos (茯苓), dried lily bulbs (百合), lotus seeds (蓮子), and Euryale ferox (芡實). Each herb provides specific TCM benefits for removing dampness and strengthening digestion.
Consult your healthcare provider before consuming Ching Bo Leung during pregnancy. While generally safe, some herbs like Solomon's seal have cooling properties that may not be suitable for all pregnant women.
Other Delicious Savory Soup Recipes
Find the harmony you miss with this delicious, immune-boosting, nutritious soup menu. Take back control of your mood and recharge energy levels by balancing your hormones and minerals with different soups. A bowl of nourishing soup is the quintessential embodiment of easily digestible southern Chinese cooking.
- Ba Wong Fa Soup for Cough and Phlegm 霸王花無花果瘦肉響螺湯
- Wild Matsutake Morel and Cordyceps Mushroom Soup 松茸菇羊肚菌石斛養生湯
- Chinese Apple and Snow Pear Soup 蘋果雪梨無花果瘦肉湯
- Moisturizing Chinese Apple Sea Coconut Soup 雪梨蘋果海底椰玉竹無花果湯
- Chinese Papaya Dessert with Snow Fungus 木瓜雪耳糖水
- Si Shen Tang four-herb soup
What To Serve With Traditional Chinese Soups
A bowl of hot soup is the perfect companion of Chinese cuisine. Add this hearty soup with the following dishes.
Complete the meal with the following delicious dishes.
- Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry 氣炸鍋腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
- Microwave Soy Sauce Chicken Wings 豉油雞翅微波爐
- Air Fryer BBQ Pork Char Siu 氣炸鍋蜜汁叉燒
- Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry 番茄炒蛋
- Chinese Braised Eggplant 紅燒茄子
After eating lots of heavy, rich, and deep-fried foods, reduce heat with chrysanthemum honeysuckle tea for inflamed throats, liver-detoxing Chinese Sweet Mung Bean Soup 綠豆沙 or Hawthorn Goji Berry Tea Digestion Tea 山楂杞子茶 for food stagnation - each addresses different aspects of post-indulgence recovery.
I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.
> Recipe Card
PrintChing Bo Leung With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯
Authentic Ching Bo Leung 四季清補涼瘦肉湯 is a traditional Cantonese herbal soup that removes dampness and strengthens the spleen. This Traditional Chinese Medicine healing soup uses six Chinese herbs and can be made in just 90 minutes for deep nourishment.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 90
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: Chinese, TCM
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Pork Ribs 豬骨
- 50g Dried Chinese Yams 淮山
- 50g Solomon's Seal Rhizome 玉竹
- 50g Poria Cocos 茯苓
- 50g Dried Lily Bulbs 百合
- 50g Dried Lotus Seeds 蓮子
- 50g Euryale Ferox 芡實
- 4L of Water
Optional Ingredients:
- 50g Raw Coix Seeds 生薏米
- 50g Glehnia Root 沙參
- 50g Dried Longan Pulp 龍眼肉
- 2 Carrots 紅蘿蔔, cubed
- 1 Sweet Corn 粟米, cubed
Instructions
- Soak the Ching Bo Leung herbs in cold water for 5-10 minutes to remove impurities. This traditional Chinese medicine preparation step ensures clean herb flavours.
- Prepare vegetables by washing and cutting into 2-inch chunks. For authentic Ching Bo Leung, use carrots and sweet corn to add natural sweetness.
- Wash the pork ribs, pork shank or tenderloin with cold water and pat dry with a kitchen paper towel. It is only necessary to cut the pork ribs into small pieces if your pot needs to be bigger.
- Blanch pork ribs in boiling water to remove impurities, essential for clear Ching Bo Leung broth. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
- Add sliced vegetables, parboiled pork bones and herbal ingredients into a clean, large stock pot not made of stainless steel like THIS Ceramcic Pot or a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker to make Ching Bo Leung with pork rib soup.
- Although not all Chinese herbs react with metal, it is best not to use a metal pot when making Chinese medicinal herbal soups.
- Fill a large pot with enough water to cover to make the clear soup stock. We used approximately 4 litres of cold water.
- Bring Ching Bo Leung to high heat for 30 minutes, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 60 minutes until herbs are tender.
- Pro Tip: If you find your pot of soup is low in liquid, where most of the liquid has evaporated, add a bit of boiled hot water to this traditional Chinese herbal soup and continue cooking.
- Skim off excess foam on the surface of the soup.
- Season your traditional Chinese herbal soup with salt to taste. Serve hot for maximum Ching Bo Leung benefits.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- I guarantee this soup will become one of your favourite soups! Serve the cooked soup ingredients with Chilli Soy Dipping Sauce and complete a full meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pot
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 6.1 g
- Sodium: 168.5 mg
- Fat: 13.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 31.3 g
- Fiber: 5.1 g
- Protein: 39.2 g
- Cholesterol: 99.7 mg
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Anna says
Is Glehnia Root 沙參 ok for nursing mothers?
I made this soup with chicken feet instead of pork and used
all your ingredients except the corn. Very enthusiastic. 😉
The Glehnia Root 沙參 makes it taste faintly like Canadian Ginseng soup.
Nancy says
Hi Anna! Glehnia Root 沙參 - generally cold in nature, so pregnant and lactating women should use it with caution. I would suggest consulting with your TCM practitioner.
Kristen says
This is on my list to try out. My kids absolutely love broth and soup of any kind. I know this will be a hit and something unique for us to try out.
Lathiya says
The soup looks so comforting and delicious. Love to try this soup for my family.
Sean says
I do a lot of Chinese cooking, but herbal soups have always intimidated me a little. There are just so many ingredients that I'm not well-versed with. You've done a wonderful job of breaking everything down here, and I appreciate all the extra options (Longan in particular - I love dried longan!). Cheers!
Asha says
Healthy soups are a definite must this time of year. This soup turned out very tasty.
Nora says
I love any soup! This one is excellent and was something new for me to try! Thank you!
Vanessa says
This soup sounds perfect for Canadian winters! I found it so interesting to learn about the health benefits of many of the ingredients.
Natalie Perry says
I love this herbal soup. It is so comforting on a cold day!
JC Phelps says
I've had something similar before in a restaurant; I'm so glad to know how to make it at home now. I am so thankful for my local Asian grocery store!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This is such a soothing soup. I'm lucky enough to have an Asian market nearby so the ingredients were available. The flavors and aroma are just heavenly!
Andréa says
This soup looks so delicious. I have to go to the Asian supermarket soon and I'm taking the listed ingredients with me, so I can prepare it myself! Thank you for the recipe!
DK says
My house smells amazing whenever I make this recipe! It's warm, savory and delicious on a cold winter day!
Bernice says
Such a wealth of information... and such unique ingredients. I love how you take the time to go through them all. One of my favourite things about food is that I'll never know everything about it and there's always something to learn.
DK says
This recipe is amazing! The herb produce a deep and elegant flavor to the soup and the fact that it has health properties is just icing on the cake!
Jacqueline Debono says
This soup sounds fascinating and very healthy. I don't know many of the herbs you mention but I would love to try this recipe if I can find them!