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Steamed pears with bei mu

Warm dessert for dry, congested lungs.

Traditional use

Time
Preparation 5 min, steaming 1 hour
Makes
4–6 people
Fritillaria bulb (bei mu)

Bei mu clears congested lungs; pears moisten, cool and strengthen the lung energy. Together a traditional remedy for congested lungs, dry airways and a heated chest.

Ingredients

  • 4 large or 8 small pears (common or nashi), unpeeled, halved
  • 2 tsp (5 g) bei mu, rinsed
  • 1 tbsp rock sugar or honey
  • 250 ml water

Step by step

  1. Put the pears with the bei mu in a heatproof dish and add the sugar or honey and water.
  2. Steam over boiling water for about an hour.
  3. Divide the pears among bowls and spoon the syrup over them.

Tips

  • In winter: add a cinnamon stick and 8 cloves.
  • A tablespoon of brandy or rum with the water adds flavour.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 647

    Fritillaria bulb (bei mu)

    Fritillaria cirrhosa

    Traditionally attributed effects: dissolves phlegm and clears congested lungs; together with pear for dry airways and a heated chest.

    Chinese medical traditions
  • Caution

    Europe · Food · № 244

    Pear

    Pyrus communis

    A fibre-rich fruit with sorbitol, which is mildly laxative. In Chinese medicine pear (li) is cooked with rock sugar for a dry cough; no effect is described for other uses.

    Folk magic and herbal magic+1Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 38

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamomum verum

    A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.

    Ayurveda+8Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 42

    Clove

    Syzygium aromaticum

    A spice. Clove oil containing eugenol may help with toothache; other claims are unproven.

    Ayurveda+5Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.