Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit) — Dried Food Herb, Peel & Seed for Tea & Soup

Gua Lou (Trichosanthes kirilowii) is the dried fruit of a traditional food herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Guā Lóu (瓜蒌). Also called Trichosanthes Fruit, it has been prized for centuries as a moistening, phlegm-transforming herb used in teas, decoctions, and seasonal soups. Its nature is sweet, slightly bitter, and cold, making it a cooling yet gentle herb for clearing heat, moistening dryness, and soothing the chest. This listing offers naturally sun-dried Gua Lou in whole-fruit, peel, and seed forms, including roasted Gua Lou seeds.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional moistening and phlegm-transforming food herb
• Naturally sun-dried whole fruit, peel, and seed forms
• Trichosanthes kirilowii
• Roasted Gua Lou seeds available in 500g packs
• Clean, origin-sourced quality

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is naturally sun-dried to preserve its golden-brown peel, firm texture, and mild, subtly sweet aroma. The whole fruit and peel carry a light, earthy fragrance, while the roasted seeds are plump and glossy with a warm, nutty scent. When decocted, Gua Lou yields a gentle, slightly sweet infusion with a soft, rounded body, and the roasted seeds offer a crisp, mildly toasted flavor when chewed.

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, Gua Lou is decocted into soups, teas, and gentle tonics to support daily nourishment during dry or hot seasons. It is a common ingredient in autumn and winter soup packs, where it pairs with ingredients like lily bulb, apricot kernel, and tangerine peel. As a tea, the peel and fruit are brewed alone or blended with chrysanthemum and honey for a light, mildly sweet infusion, while the roasted seeds are enjoyed as a warm, nutty snack.

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