Osmanthus poached pears
My son loves a variety of fruits, be it sweet or slightly sour. Does that mean he is not picky about fruits? Not really. In fact, he can be outright picky. He clearly likes some (a lot) and dislikes many as well. One particular fruit that is near to the bottom of his preferred list is Chinese pear, especially when served as freshly cuts. He would only take one small bite and give me the standard “Mummy, I’m full” excuse. “Sweet talking” him to try a few more cuts didn’t work, and I have been scratching my head on how to entice him to like Chinese pear until I almost give up and hope for miracle. 
Sometimes a better answer lies in approaching a problem indirectly, which brings me to try out this Chinese “osmanthus poached pear” sweet dessert soup. When I made it for the first time, to my surprise, my son finished an entire bowl of the soup including the poached Chinese pear! 
He loved the soft and smooth texture of the poached pear just like the softened apple in his favourite apple soup. Don’t you think that kids’ taste bud is so unpredictable? Hmm! So, by thinking laterally, you don’t really need to wait for a miracle to happen. And, I was persistent enough to be answered.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, pear is capable to remove excess body heat, moisten throat and lungs, and help relieves cough and clear phlegm. Hence, you will find poaching or boiling pear soup quite common among Chinese households. But I find it interesting and unique to use dried osmanthus flowers (桂花) in poaching pears as these yellow tiny dried flowers are more commonly used to infuse tea and in making Chinese desserts (such as osmanthus jelly).
I find the overall taste of this sweet dessert soup incredibly fragrant with the infused scent of osmanthus in the poached pears and not overly sweet as well. I was totally enchanted by its sweet floral and apricot scent of osmanthus when sipping the soup. It’s very nutritious and healthy too. You can serve it warm or chilled. Definitely a perfect choice of “cooling” dessert for this hot weather!
Apart from pear, the use of white fungus and Chinese almonds (both sweet and bitter almonds also known as apricot kernels or seeds) can bring substantial benefits to our body too. White fungus can treat insomnia while Chinese almonds are good in treating cough and phlegm. If you want to know more about Chinese almonds (also known as apricot kernels or seeds) and candied dates, please refer to this post and this post.
I had tried making it using both pot method and slow cooker method (yeah, that’s my cheater method!) as mentioned in my recipe. Both methods worked well for me. Taste-wise, the end result is the same. But I prefer the latter as it is easier and straight forward. So just let your reliable slow cooker do the job while you watch your World Cup worry-free! 
>>> Click on PAGE 2 BELOW for osmanthus poached pears recipe…………
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i think for kids, so much of their likes and dislikes are about texture rather than taste. I love the texture of poached fruit, so I definitely can see why your son loved this!
Joanne: Every kid has his/ her own taste buds mostly influenced by the environment he/ her has grown up. My son’s dislike can be either texture or taste. Quite unpredictable sometimes. Glad to know that you like poached fruit. 😉
This looks and sounds amazing. Such gorgeous photos, too. I’m intrigued by osmanthus, even though I am no stranger to Eastern ingredients.
Susah: Thanks so much for your compliments! Yeah, I totally fell in love with osmanthus now! 😉
This soup looks fruity sweet and tasty. You make it so nicely presented, very nice!
Kitchen Corner: Thanks so much for your sweet comment. It is also very nutritious too! 😉
Another successful story of coaxing kids to eat variety of fruits! Thumbs up! 🙂
Alice: Hahaha! Thanks! 😉
where you buy the osmanthus flowers from? I love this nourishing dessert soup, and the warm lighting you used to capture the beautiful shots ^^
Noobcook: I got mine from both Tampines’s Round Market and a chinese medicine shop at Tampines One. Thanks for your sweet sweet comment! Oh, pretty hot during my shooting until my glasses were blurred. LOL!
I had osmanthus jelly in HK and loved it! This sounds great, very healthy and tasty!
Pigpigscorner: I’m definitely going to try one if I happen to go to HK. Yeah, a great bowl of dessert soup! 😉
The next time I use my slow cooker, it must be for a tong sui like this 🙂
Tigerfish: Oh yeah, must try! An easy-peasy job when you use slow cooker! 😉
LK this is perfect. I’ve had this horrible cough that just won’t go away… maybe this’ll work. Now I need to go buy almonds and osthmanthus!! Where did you buy most of your ingredients from?
Clare: Thanks but still have rooms for improvement! Oh..so sorry to hear that…yeah you can give it a try and also my green radish and carrot soup. Usually I bought my Chinese herbal ingredients from Hock Hua and Yu Ren Sheng. For osmanthus, I got mine from both Tampines’s Round Market and a chinese medicine shop at Tampines One. Btw, have you heard of steamed orange? It worked for me and some who had tried this remedy. If you want to know further, drop me an email. Hope you have a speedy recovery! 😉
hmmnn.. this is something I wanna try.
Peachkins: Definitely worth trying! Hopefully your gal will love it! 😉
Yummy, I can smell and taste the sweet soup already.
LCOM: Me too! Feel like making it again! 😉
I don’t like this type of pear as well, hehe…
Little Inbox: Hahaha! Maybe this sweet soup will make you change your mind. Give it a try! 😉
This is a comfort sweet soup to me, delicious, healthy. I also love to cook pears with only osmanthus and sugar, a lazy version : ).
TasteHongKong: Wow! Your version is super-easy! 😉
What a healthy dessert infused with mother’s love! Like the gorgeous photos, especially the ingredients… looks like taken from a book. Great job!
KY: Thanks so much for your wonderful compliment!! Give it a try and hope your kids will like it! 😉
I always enjoy reading your posts and your photography…beautiful!
Angie: So happy to know that you enjoy both my post and photography! Love yours too!! 😉
I missed cooking this dessert ever since everyone in my family cut down on sugar intake. It’s indeed a very nice and cooling recipe for the body system.
By the way, do you usually add in sugar before all the ingredients are cooked? I normally add in last as some ingredients would not get fully cooked in sugared water.
Criz Lai: Depending on what type of desserts I cook. For red bean sweet soup, sugar can only be added last and after the red beans turn soft. For this poached pear recipe, I think the author wants the pears to slowly absorb the sweetness of the sugar during the cooking process. Correct me if I’m wrong. 😉
What a unique combo of ingredients here. My kids love sweet chinese pear too. Must be so tasty in this soup!
Maria:This pear is really sweet and crisp even if you eat it fresh. Hope your kids love it! 😉
This looks wonderful! Beautiful photo!
Jessica: Thanks for your sweet words! 😉
A healthy dessert!
BTW, have you tried osmanthus flowers kueh before? Wonder how it tastes? Also, where can i buy it?
Dora: Thanks! I had tried one recently at a Chinese tong sui stall (next to Toastbox) at Tampines One. Not really up to my expection. It looks like normal jelly with osmanthus and wolfberries.
what a neat recipe, chinese pears are super hearty we love them, love this
sweetlife
Sweetlife: Thanks! Glad that you love this recipe. 😉
To be honest, I’ve never tried anything osmanthus. I still have that small bag of dried osmanthus given to me by another blogger friend Wendy in the fridge. Yet to decide on what to make with the flower. Probably something refreshing … I think you’re giving me an idea … =)
Pei Lin: This sweet soup is really healthy and nourishing for you and your family. Hope you will like it. Happy trying! 😉
oh yay !! still got 1/2 packet of Osmanthus, gonna try making it. Thanks 🙂
Swee San: Hope you will love this sweet soup! Happy trying! 😉
[…] Ann City (shops outside Cold Storage). – Chinese Medical Hall at basement of Tampines 1 (thanks to Food for Tots for the […]
[…] Any Effective Recipe For Cough/Phlegm You can try pear soup. Osmanthus poached pears | Food-4Tots | Recipes for Toddlers This recipe has osmanthus, red dates and white fungus. I usually dont't include those. I only use […]
I have a huge osmanthus tree growing outside my house in Shanghai – right now it’s flowering and the delicious scent is wafting into the room as I type. I have been drying the flowers for days with a vague idea of infusing them into something – cream was my first thought, but this sweet soup looks delightful. Thanks for the infusing tips.
Cheers, Fiona
Fiona: I have never seen osmathus tree before. You’re so lucky to have one at your place. Hope you will love this recipe. 😉
I have a huge osmanthus tree growing outside my house here in Shanghai, and at the moment it’s flowering and the sweet scent is wafting into the living room. I have dried lots of the flowers with vague thoughts of steeping them in something….cream perhaps? Now I will try the soup instead because the Chinese pears are also in season….Thanks for the tips on infusing them
Cheers, Fiona
Fiona: Cream? It’s new to me. Maybe you can share with me your recipe one day. It’s my pleasure to share. Looking forward to your kind feedback. 😉
Thanks for your tips! I enjoy reading your blog.
Wanna ask u where u buy the disposable tea or spice bag from?
I bought what I thot was disposable from Japan Home but it turned out bait like a thinner version of a coffee sock.
I worry that th osmanthus fragrance can’t be emitted using a spice or tea bag. Will it?
Cody: Thanks for your wonderful comment! I bought mine from NTUC supermarket. Have you tried Daiso or any Chinese shop selling cookware? 🙂
Where u get the tea bag for use?
Samantha: I bought mine from NTUC FairPrice. You can also find it at any Chinese kitchenware stores. 😉
[…] Ann City (shops outside Cold Storage). – Chinese Medical Hall at basement of Tampines 1 (thanks to Food for Tots for the […]