Rock Sugar Pear – A Sweet and Soothing Chinese Dessert for Winter

In traditional Chinese culture, pears are often associated with supporting the lungs and nourishing yin, but they are also considered cooling. Steaming them is a gentle way to soften this cooling quality while keeping their comforting qualities.

This is snow fungus, but you can also use white fungus.

In traditional Chinese food culture, snow fungus is often associated with nourishing yin and supporting moisture in the body. It is valued more as a gentle, everyday food than as medicine.

You might have noticed that many of the ingredients here are associated with nourishing yin. In traditional Chinese wellness culture, there is a saying: “nourish yang in spring and summer, and nourish yin in autumn and winter.” The idea is that spring and summer are times when yang energy is naturally abundant, making it a favorable time to support and strengthen it. By the same logic, autumn and winter are seen as better times to nourish yin, when the environment becomes cooler and more inward.

One piece is enough.

This is what snow fungus looks like after soaking.

Japanese pears at Costco.

Prepare red dates (pitted), hawthorn, and rock sugar. The red dates and rock sugar are sweet, while the hawthorn is sour—adjust the quantities according to your taste.

Red dates are traditionally used to tonify the Middle (support the digestive system) and benefit Qi (boost energy), as well as to nourish the blood and calm the mind. They are often considered suitable for people who feel anxious or frequently fatigued.

Hawthorn is traditionally used to aid digestion and support the stomach, as well as to help resolve excess fats and turbidity. In China, hawthorn is commonly included in some patent herb formulas to assist with lowering blood lipids and supporting weight loss.

Rock sugar is traditionally believed to tonify the Middle (support the digestive system) and benefit Qi (boost energy), harmonize the stomach, and moisten the lungs.

1️⃣Place the pears in a bowl and stuff them with the prepared ingredients.

2️⃣Fill the bowl with water.

3️⃣Put the bowl in a pot and 4️⃣add water to the pot.

5️⃣Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and steam for 20–30 minutes.

Turn off the heat, add goji berries, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Goji berries are traditionally believed to tonify the liver and kidneys, benefit essence and blood, and improve vision.

Ready to serve.🤤

Take a pic😊