Will the soup made with Hetian jade dates be bitter, and why?
Jun 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, soup cooked with Hetian jade dates should not be bitter. This is because Hetian jade dates themselves are sweet in flavor, and after cooking, the soup should only have a sweet taste, not a bitter one. Before cooking, the Hetian jade dates should be carefully selected to avoid using moldy or spoiled red dates, which could affect the taste and healthfulness of the soup. Additionally, the quantity of red dates used can be adjusted according to personal taste to prevent the soup from becoming overly sweet.
Generally, stewing with Hetian jade dates will not result in a bitter taste. This is because Hetian jade dates themselves are sweet in flavor. After stewing, the soup will only have a sweet taste, rather than a bitter one. Detailed explanation is as follows:
Hetian jade dates have thick flesh and abundant sugar content, naturally offering a sweet flavor. Their flesh has fine fibers and contains no bitter components. When stewing soup, if ingredients such as white fungus, lotus seeds, and goji berries are properly combined and the heat controlled appropriately, the sugar from the red dates will blend with the flavors of other ingredients, creating a refreshing and mellow sweetness. Even with prolonged cooking, the flesh of Hetian jade dates will simply become softer and stickier, with the sugar fully dissolving into the soup, thereby enhancing the sweetness and aroma of the broth.
Before stewing, carefully select Hetian jade dates and avoid using moldy or spoiled ones to prevent affecting the soup's taste and healthfulness. Additionally, adjust the quantity according to personal taste when cooking to avoid excessive sweetness caused by using too many red dates. Moreover, control the cooking time and heat properly to prevent burning or overheating, which may cause abnormal flavors in the soup.
