Zao Jiao Mi (Gleditsia sinensis Seed Kernels) — Dried Snow Lotus Seed Food Herb, 500g

Zao Jiao Mi (Gleditsia sinensis) are the dried seed kernels of the Chinese honeylocust tree, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Zào Jiǎo Mǐ (皂角米) and affectionately called Xuě Lián Zǐ (雪莲子), or "Snow Lotus Seed." For generations this food herb has been prized as a gentle, yin-nourishing ingredient used in sweet soups, congee, and daily tonics. Its nature is sweet and neutral, making it a mild yet deeply hydrating herb traditionally associated with moistening dryness, supporting fluid balance, and nurturing the body's yin.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional yin-nourishing food herb (药食同源)
• Dried Gleditsia sinensis seed kernels
• Known as Snow Lotus Seed (雪莲子)
• Single-clip (单夹) grade, sulfur-free
• 500g bulk pack for soups and sweet broths

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is gently dried to preserve the kernels' pale ivory to translucent amber color, smooth glossy surface, and clean, faintly nutty aroma. When soaked, the kernels swell into soft, gelatinous pearls with a delicate springy bite. Simmered in sweet soups, they release a mild, subtly sweet flavor and a silky, mucilaginous texture that thickens the broth naturally without overpowering companion ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Sweet soup and dessert broth (糖水)
• Congee and grain porridge
• Herbal tea blends and daily tonics
• Seasonal yin-nourishing soup packs
• Combined with peach gum, snow fungus, or jujube

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Zao Jiao Mi is soaked overnight and then simmered into sweet soups, congee, and gentle daily tonics to support moisture and nourishment through dry seasons. It is a beloved ingredient in Cantonese-style sweet broths, where it is paired with peach gum, snow fungus, lotus seed, and red jujube. As a light daily tea, it is brewed with rock sugar and goji berry for a soothing, mildly sweet infusion enjoyed as part of seasonal nourishment.

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