Double-Steamed Snow Pear with Fritillaria Bulb 川貝燉雪梨

Double-Steamed Snow Pear with Fritillaria Bulb Recipe 冰糖川貝燉雪梨 is one of my go-to recipes whenever I am sick or can't get rid of the nagging persistent cough that just won't go away. This natural Chinese Medicinal Food Therapy is for anyone who hates taking medicine, pills or cough syrup! There is no downside, like drowsiness or disgusting tastes of cough syrups. 

This traditional steamed pear recipe tastes much like a dessert. It is perfect for anyone suffering from seasonal dry chronic cough because it goes down easy and gives your dry throat and lungs a much-needed hug! The yin-moistening quality of this dessert soup will help you soothe and reduce swelling, nourish lungs, clear phlegm and reduce heat.

咳個不停: 川貝有化痰止咳、清熱潤燥、消腫散結功效，川貝由於性微寒, 只適用於治療熱咳、燥咳，如乾咳或痰黃，或口乾舌燥等症狀

> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Stew Snow Pear Chuan Bei Mu Recipe

This Traditional Chinese Medicine recipe with just three ingredients is easy and can be made without added sugar. Snow pears are naturally sweet. Adding rock sugar will help further mask the slightly bitter taste from Fritillaria Bulb 川貝. In addition, rock sugar clears heat and nourishes Yin. 

Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!

Jump to:

• > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Stew Snow Pear Chuan Bei Mu Recipe
• What is Fritillaria Bulb?
• How To Select and Buy Fritillaria Bulb 如何選擇和購買靓川贝
• Health Benefits & TCM Properties
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• Instructions
• Other Delicious TCM Recipes
• > Recipe Card
• Double-Steamed Snow Pear with Fritillaria Bulb Recipe 川貝燉雪梨

What is Fritillaria Bulb?

Fritillaria (川貝, Chuān bèi) is a type of perennial, bulbous flowering plant belonging to the lily family. It is found in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Many species of Fritillaria are toxic. 

Fritillaria tastes bitter and sweet. It is cool in nature and enters the Heart and Lung organ affinity. Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulbs) is used in TCM to clear hot phlegm and stop chronic coughs. Clearing lung heat by Yin deficiency, dissolves phlegm, and reduces inflammation and swelling.

This classic remedy targets the lung dryness that intensifies during China's Autumn Tiger weather phenomenon. Learn more about this traditional Chinese approach to unexpected Autumn heat and discover why timing matters when using pear-based cooling remedies.

Yellow Himalayan fritillary (Fritillaria cirrhosa) is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat respiratory conditions such as:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Cough
• Hypertension
• Pneumonia
• Swelling
• Tuberculosis

Many of the medicinal applications of Fritillaria are connected to the lungs. In traditional Chinese medicine, Fritillaria is known for its ability to eliminate and decrease the production of phlegm and mucus by cooling and moistening the lungs and reducing inflammation. Fritillaria also has potent antitussive properties, providing relief from coughs.

Fritillaria Bulb can be purchased in bulb or powder form at your local Chinese herbal store.

咳個不停，很多人會食用川貝. 川貝有化痰止咳、清熱潤燥作用，配上百合和雪梨，滋養潤肺.

How To Select and Buy Fritillaria Bulb 如何選擇和購買靓川贝

I suggest buying whole grain rather than purchasing the powder form when selecting Fritillaria. It is easier to distinguish whether it is genuine.

The original Fritillaria Bulb is typically spherical shaped and has a diameter of 2mm. The shape of the Chuanbei is structured with a large flap, hugging a smaller flap. If you look closely, the middle has the shape of a crescent moon.

Pre-polished Fritillaria Bulb's original colour is light brown. Most market Fritillaria is treated and bleached to be pearly white. Coffee brownish-yellow Fritillaria Bulb has become harder to buy, so it is essential to soak it in water to remove impurities before consuming.

Also, Pingbei 平貝 is cheaper than Chuanbei 川貝.

Health Benefits & TCM Properties

The two other ingredients paired in this recipe also contain medicinal benefits.

Snow Pears (雪梨, Xuělí) - Snow Pears are Asian pears and are very different from Western pears. Using a mix of pear types of western varieties is not recommended. Snow pears are thirst-quenching and lung-moisturizing. Snow pears are excellent and naturally soothe dry throats during the fall and winter seasons of dryness and reduce phlegm. Plus, Chinese pears contain high amounts of B Vitamins. This fruit is best for preventing dryness, clearing heat, detoxifying and moistening the organs.

Although pears can clear the heart and nourish the lungs, they are cool in nature and taste bitter and sweet. Therefore, people with weak constitutions and cold coughs should not eat them raw. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the central part of the medicine is in the skin. Snow pear can provide maximum benefit and the strongest medicinal effect when stewed. It is more effective in relieving cough and moisturizing the lungs with the skin on when cooking.

Rock Sugar (冰糖, Bīngtáng) - The soothing taste of rock sugar is the perfect addition to sweet dessert soup. This natural sweetener invigorates the central meridian, improves Qi, moisturizes the lungs, quenches thirst and relieves dry cough and phlegm. In addition, rock sugar clears heat and nourishes Yin.

Snow Fungus (雪耳, Xuě ěr) - Tremella Fuciformis is an excellent addition to this nourishing soup to treat sore throats. Snow fungus suits people with Lung Qi and Lung Yin Deficiencies - chronic cough and dry cough with no phlegm. It also helps to nourish dry skin and constipation. This dried fungus is inherently sweet and helps tonify Yin deficiencies.

Silver Ear Fungus moistens the stomach, kidneys, and lungs meridians. Its natural antioxidant properties prevent cell damage by free radicals, hydrating and rejuvenating the skin. This is a very safe ingredient and can be eaten freely as food. Snow Fungus is rich in plant collagen for vegan recipes, making it an excellent bird nest and meat substitute. Its gel-like properties increase the creaminess of the texture of the soup.

Most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies can be purchased at your local Asian markets or Chinese grocery stores or Amazon Online.

Ingredients and Substitutes

• Snow Pear
• Fritillaria Blub
• Rock Sugar - if you cannot find rock sugar, Raw Honey can be used as a substitute. Honey (蜂蜜, Fēngmì) is sweet and neutral (balance between yin and yang energy). That means it soothes, moistens and nourishes the lungs, Yin, spleen and stomach and restores Qi. 

Optional Ingredients

• Fresh Lily Bulb 鮮百合 
• Snow Fungus 雪耳

Instructions

Soak the herbs in a small bowl in cold water for 10 minutes to remove traces of impurities. This will help remove dust and debris. Rinse and set aside in a small bowl.  

Wash and pat dry snow pears. Cored pear and cut the snow pears into small pieces, approximately 2 inches. 

Add sliced Fritillaria Bulb, snow pears and rock sugar in a ceramic stewing pot. The glass double boiler with the Buydeem Health Beverage Maker is also excellent. 

Although not all Chinese herbs react with metal, it is best not to use a metal pot when making Chinese medicinal herbal soups.

Do not add water inside the stewing ramekin. The natural juices of snow pears will release as they are stewed. Cover the stew pot to ensure none of the liquid escapes.

Method One: Add one litre of water to the Buydeem Health Beverage Maker and insert a glass double boiler. Set to Herbal mode to stew for 120 minutes. 

Method Two: Place wire rack into InstantPot and add approximately 1 cup of water to the bottom. Place ramekin on top of wire rack. Set InstantPot to manual high pressure for 1 hour.

Method Three: Add a few inches of water to the bottom of a large pot. Then, place the ceramic stew pot on top of a wire rack. Stew over medium heat for 2 hours.

Serve and enjoy. 

I guarantee this healing Chinese dessert and natural cough medicine will become part of your favourite holistic wellness routine in the winter! 

Other Delicious TCM 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. 

• Apple and Snow Pear Soup 蘋果雪梨無花果瘦肉湯
• Moisturizing Apple Sea Coconut Soup 雪梨蘋果海底椰玉竹無花果湯
• Papaya Dessert with Snow Fungus 木瓜雪耳糖水
• Red Bean Soup with Coconut Milk 椰汁紅豆沙 
• Autumn Dryness Relief TCM Lotus Snow Fungus Dessert
• Snow Nest Dessert Soup with Coconut Milk and Peach Gum (椰汁雪燕桃胶糖水)

Beyond Lung-moistening soups, master how to make tang yuan with black sesame -this Mid-Autumn Festival essential provides warming satisfaction while building Kidney essence for winter preparation. While this pear dessert targets lung dryness, peach gum dessert soup focuses on overall body moisture and skin elasticity through collagen-rich tree resin.

I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.

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