How to Make Chinese Apple-Pear Soup | A Grandma's Fruit Soup for Dry Fall Days

When the fall air turned dry and throats felt parched, grandmas in China simmered apples and pears in a pot. Four ingredients, one pot, and about 20 minutes.

Where It Comes From

Apple-pear soup (苹果雪梨汤, píngguǒ xuělí tāng) is a fruit soup that families in China simmer in the fall. It was said to keep a dry throat moist, and it has long been made when the autumn air turns dry and the throat feels parched. It's a light, sweet, sippable soup: just fruit simmered in water, not a creamy or savory soup.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

Ingredient	Amount
Apple	200 g (about 7 oz), 1 apple
Pear	300 g (about 10½ oz), 1 pear
Rock sugar (or regular sugar)	15 g (about 1 Tbsp)
Water	800 ml (about 3⅓ cups)

How to Make It

1. Cut the apple and pear into big chunks.
2. Put them in a pot with the 800 ml of water and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the 15 g of rock sugar until it melts.

Why People Love It

• A warm bowl that helps you get fluids
• It contains fiber

What Science Says

We couldn't find a study that looked directly at apple-pear soup and the throat. Science hasn't tested it yet — that's not the same as wrong. And Grandma had good reasons: in a dry season, a warm bowl is an easy, comforting way to get fluids.

Today's Rating

Evidence	Safety
★ (a remedy passed down through generations)	🟢 (safe in normal food amounts)

How to Enjoy It

On a dry fall day, one bowl.

Just One Thing to Watch

• There's no special caution for this recipe. Just follow the general note below.

General Note

• If you have diabetes, go easy on the sweet ingredients. Foods and drinks high in sugar can raise blood sugar quickly. You can cut back on the rock sugar or skip it; the fruit is still sweet.

Sources

• No direct studies found (we couldn't find research on apple-pear soup itself)

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This article introduces traditional food customs. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please talk to your doctor if you have health concerns.