Summer is here, and while we love the sunny days, the intense heat can take a toll on our bodies. Many people experience internal heat, dryness, fatigue, or even swollen legs and poor appetite. According to traditional Chinese wellness principles, choosing the right summer ingredients and soups can help us clear heat, replenish fluids, and stay comfortable all season long.
Top Cooling Ingredients to Add to Your Summer Diet
- Watermelon Rind - Often discarded, watermelon rind is actually a great heat-clearing ingredient. It helps reduce internal heat, relieve swelling, and promote hydration.
- Mung Beans - Known for their cooling and detoxifying properties, mung beans are perfect for reducing internal heat and soothing irritated skin or throats.
- Winter Melon - Winter melon is mild, refreshing, and great for eliminating dampness and swelling. It's also very hydrating, making it ideal for hot weather.
- Bitter Melon - While it has a unique taste, bitter melon is excellent for clearing heat and reducing internal fire. It also supports digestion and reduces toxins.
- Lotus Leaf - Lotus leaf is used to clear summer heat and stop excessive thirst. It pairs well in teas or soups.
- Coix Seeds (Job’s Tears) - These help eliminate dampness and reduce water retention, making you feel lighter and less bloated.
- Lily Bulb - Lily bulb moistens the lungs and calms the mind, which helps if you're feeling dry, anxious, or have trouble sleeping.
Easy Summer Herbal Soup Combinations
In addition to enjoying these ingredients on their own, you can also combine them into nourishing soups for extra health benefits:
1. Winter Melon & Mung Bean Soup
Reduces heat and detoxifies. Just simmer mung beans, winter melon, and a piece of dried tangerine peel for a refreshing, light soup.
2. Lotus Leaf & Coix Seed Soup
Eliminates dampness and relieves thirst. Boil lotus leaf pieces with coix seeds and red dates.
3. Bitter Melon & Pork Soup
Cools down internal heat while improving appetite. Blanch pork ribs, then simmer with bitter melon and ginger.
These traditional Chinese soup recipes are simple to prepare at home and provide a gentle, natural way to stay balanced and refreshed in the summer.
Easy Winter Melon & Job’s Tears Soup Recipe (Cooling & Dampness-Reducing)
Looking for a natural way to cool down and reduce internal dampness during hot and humid summers? Winter Melon & Job’s Tears Soup is a classic Hong Kong-style Chinese soup that’s light, mildly sweet, and perfect for summer health.
Benefits:
- Clears internal heat and toxins
- Reduces dampness and puffiness
- Hydrates and refreshes the body
Ingredients (4 servings):
- Winter melon – 500 g
- Job’s tears (Coix seeds) – 50 g (soaked)
- Dried dates – 1–2 pcs
- Pork ribs – 300 g (blanched)
- Ginger slices – 2–3 pcs
- Water – 2 L
Instructions:
- Blanch pork ribs and rinse clean.
- Add winter melon, job’s tears, dried dates, ginger, and ribs to a pot of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour.
- Serve hot. The soup is naturally light, slightly sweet, and very refreshing.
This traditional cooling soup is ideal for summer—it helps regulate body heat, remove excess moisture, and replenish hydration, making it a healthy soup for the whole family.
Extra Tips to Beat the Summer Heat
- Drink warm or room-temperature beverages to support digestive health.
- Avoid heavy, greasy foods that add internal heat.
- Try to rest more and avoid intense outdoor activities during peak heat hours.
Try Convenient Herbal Soup Packs for Summer
If you’re looking for a simple, convenient way to enjoy summer soups, explore our Heat-Relieving Collection, which includes:
- Heat Relieve Soup — Clears heat and supports lung health.
- Calm Soup — Helps ease restlessness and improve sleep quality.
- Lung Care Soup — Moistens the lungs and soothes the throat.
Additionally, we also recommend these soups for summer wellness:
- Body Moisturize Soup — Supports skin hydration and overall moisture balance.
- Fatigue Fight Soup — Helps boost energy and reduce summer fatigue.
These soup packs are designed to help you stay cool, balanced, and nourished throughout the hottest days — all without the hassle of preparing everything from scratch.
Ready to enjoy a refreshing summer from the inside out? Discover all our soups here.
