Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Ingredient Name:  Snow Pears or Pyrus Nivalis

Chinese Name:  雪梨 (xuě lí)

• An edible fruit grown from pear trees
• It is usually round and found to grow well in cooler temperatures
• The snow pear is often firm in handling and is often associated with being on the more sour and tangy side of taste
• Snow pears are known to be a “cooling” fruit

How do I prepare it?

• Wash the snow pears in warm running water
• Halve the snow pear and core
• Use halves for soups as the pears sometimes disintegrate if they are too small

Where can I buy this?

• In most asian supermarkets, this fruit tends to be in season all year round
• Western supermarkets will also sometimes carry this fruit
• Be sure to buy snow pears that are firm and blemish free

What is the cost?

• Snow pears are relatively affordable at $3-5 HKD / pear

Any benefits?

• Pears have 0 fat and provide a healthy intake of natural sugars
• Pears are also packed with Vitamin A, C and E1
• They contain excellent amounts of copper and potassium and are packed with carbohydrates
• Pears also are the least allergenic of all fruits and is often found as a first foods for babies
• They are said to assist with the lower of cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Pears are excellent laxatives due to their high fiber content

Any precautions?

• Pears, especially Snow Pears, are known to be a “cooling” food
• Women who are pregnant or menstruating should take caution when consuming Snow Pears

Any substitutes?

• “Crystal” pears can also be substituted for Snow Pears in soups
• Apples are also an ideal substitute

 Additional Information?

• Snow Pears store very well 
• At room temperatures, they can be stored for up to 1 month

 References 

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_nivalis