Dong Gua Zi (Benincasa hispida Seed) — Dried Winter Melon Seed, Food Herb for Tea & Soup

Dong Gua Zi (Benincasa hispida) is the dried mature seed of the winter melon, a traditional food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Dōng Guā Zǐ (冬瓜子). For centuries, Dong Gua Zi has been prized as a gentle, dampness-transforming and heat-clearing herb, used in decoctions, soups, and daily teas to support the Spleen and Lung, ease water metabolism, and soothe the throat. Its nature is sweet and slightly cold, making it a mild yet refreshing herb for seasonal nourishment.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional food herb (药食同源) winter melon seed
• Dried, unsulfured (无熏) whole seeds
• Benincasa hispida botanical identity
• Suitable for tea, soup, and congee
• 500 g value pack, bulk-friendly

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully cleaned and sun-dried to preserve its pale cream color, smooth oval shape, and faintly nutty aroma. The seeds are firm and plump, with a thin outer coat that cracks easily when pressed. When simmered or brewed, they release a mild, subtly sweet and slightly earthy flavor, lending a soft, clean body to broths and infusions without overpowering other ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese-style soup and broth
• Herbal tea blends
• Congee and grain porridge
• Seasonal slow-cooking
• Soup-pack ingredient

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Dong Gua Zi is decocted into soups, congee, and gentle daily tonics to support fluid balance and ease seasonal dampness. It is a common ingredient in summer soup packs, where it pairs with ingredients like coix seed, lotus leaf, and tangerine peel. As a tea, it is brewed alone or blended with chrysanthemum and honeysuckle for a light, mildly sweet infusion.

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