Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng Recipe

Richie

By Richie

Lastest Updated June 21, 2024
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Chè sâm bổ lượng, globally known as ching bo leung, is one of the most well-loved sweet soups when summer comes in Vietnam.

Filled with nutritious ingredients, like lotus seeds, goji berries, red dates, and more, This Vietnamese herbal dessert is not only refreshing but also extremely flavorful. Stick with me through today’s post to learn a fail-proof recipe to whip up sâm bổ lượng at home.

Iced Dessert Drink With Herbal Ingredients

The Origin of Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng

Chè sâm bổ lượng actually came from Chinese cuisine, known by the name ching bo leung. It’s a popular dessert and snack in Southern Vietnam. In addition to Vietnam, it’s also a common sweet treat in Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi provinces in China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Che Sam Bo Luong
Ching Bo Leung
Serve The Che Sam Bo Luong
Store Che Sam Bo Luong
Making Che Sam Bo Luong

Interestingly, although people in Southern Vietnam, especially those living in Cho Lon, enjoy this herbal dessert regularly, many Northerners have never heard of it. Since Cho Lon is often considered the Chinatown of Saigon, it’s likely the Chinese-Vietnamese here were the ones that brought this dessert to the country.

In a serving of chè sâm bổ lượng, you can find plenty of herbal ingredients, such as lotus roots and seeds, Chinese water chestnut, Chinese pearl barley, red dates, and goji berries. According to folk medicine, they all boast great health-giving properties.

In other words, you’re not just enjoying a delicious dessert but also a highly nutritious one, benefiting both you and your loved ones.

Tools to Prepare Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng

This might come as a surprise, but the tools required for this recipe are super simple such as:

Ladle For Spooning The Soup
  • Pot: For cooking the sweet soup.
  • Ladle: For spooning the soup.

Ingredients in Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng

The ingredients in sâm bổ lượng are quite diverse. I highly recommend taking a trip to the nearest Asian store, as you’ll need to purchase quite a lot of herbal ingredients.

Chinese Water Chestnut
  • Lotus seeds: Fresh lotus seeds are the best options, but you can also use dried seeds. Note that dried ones will take longer to cook.
  • Rock sugar: Other types of sugar (brown, granulated) are viable alternatives. That said, I like the mild sweetness that rock sugar provides the most.
  • Lotus roots: Starchy, slightly crunchy roots that aid digestion, reduce inflammation, and boost your immunity.
  • Chinese water chestnut: Known as Cu Nang in Vietnamese. They contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.
  • Dried red dates: Or jujubes. You can think of them as sweet, tiny apples with amazing health benefits, like strengthening the immune system and improving sleep quality.
  • Dried longan: This fruit belongs to the same plant family as the rambutan and lychee. Longan is rich in vitamin C and has a delightfully sweet flavor.
  • Dried goji berries: Contain a good number of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. They taste a bit like cranberries.
  • Chinese pearl barley: Also called Job’s Tears. This is a superfood native to Southeast Asia.
  • Seaweed: Opt for the type that is thick, which the Vietnamese call Pho Tai.
  • Chia seeds: Health-aware food lovers are certainly no strangers to these highly nutritious seeds.
  • Snow fungus: One of the most common fungi used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. It adds a crunchy, fairly gelatinous bite to the soup.
  • Banana extract: A few drops of banana extract help boost the flavor and aroma of your sweet soup remarkably.

Step-by-Step Directions for Making Sâm Bổ Lượng

Now it’s time to start cooking this Vietnamese herbal dessert with 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Prepare The Ingredients

Soak the pearl barley in boiling water for 30 minutes. Change the water when it has cooled. Drain the pearl barley afterward.

Soak The Pearl Barley

Soak the lotus roots and water chestnuts in an ice bath for 20 minutes to soften them and help them maintain their color.

Soak The Lotus Roots

Rinse the rest of the ingredients (seaweed, goji berries, red dates, etc.), then soak them in water for 20 minutes.

Rinse The Rest Of Ingredients

Once the snow fungus has softened, cut it into bite-sized slices.

Step 2: Cook The Sweet Soup

Pour about 10.5 – 12.5 cups of water into the pot. Then, add the lotus seeds and pearl barley and cook them for 30 minutes over medium heat. Cover the pot to help the seeds soften quicker and prevent too much water from evaporating during boiling.

Cook The Sweet Soup

After 30 minutes or when the lotus seeds and barley have tenderized, add the lotus roots, water chestnuts, and red dates into the pot. Cover and continue to cook for 20 minutes

Add The Lotus Roots Water Chestnuts

Next, add the longan, snow fungus, and rock sugar. Cook for another 5 minutes over medium-low heat.

Add The Longan Snow Fungus

Lastly, add seaweed, goji berries, and chia seeds. Cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes, then cut the heat.

Add Seaweed Goji Berries
And Chia Seeds

Step 3: Present The Dish

Allow the sweet soup to cool, then ladle it into a bowl or cup. Add a few drops of banana flavoring oil to boost the taste and aroma.

Serve your dessert chilled, or add some ice cubes. The cooling sensation of this dessert will wow you!

Serve The Che Sam Bo Luong

How to Store Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng

You can easily make a large batch of sâm bổ lượng ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Provided that you keep it in airtight containers, preferably glass jars, your sweet soup will last for 3 to 5 days.

Store Che Sam Bo Luong

I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish, though. While the soup won’t go bad when stored in a freezer, it won’t taste nearly as good. For example, the longans will lose their slight chewiness.

Other Tips in Making Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng

Here are a few tips and tricks to improve your herbal dessert. Don’t miss out on them!

  • You can replace chia seeds with basil seeds. Note that chia seeds are generally smaller than basil seeds after swelling, so you might need to change the amount used accordingly. The soaking time for basil seeds is about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Be careful with the amount of sugar that you add to the soup. Too much sugar can cause your soup dessert to be overwhelmingly sweet.
  • If you find it hard to purchase all the necessary ingredients, you can look for the ching bo leung soup mix at a Chinese store.
Making Che Sam Bo Luong

Other Ideal Ingredients in Sâm Bổ Lượng to Consider

In addition to the ones listed above, there are more ingredients with great medical properties you can add to your sâm bổ lượng dessert.

  • Fox nut barley: Somewhat similar to lotus seeds but paler in color. This type of barley is a great source of protein and fiber.
  • Yu zhu: I believe there’s no official name for this ingredient in English, but it’s translated to “jaded bamboo.” Folk medicine states that it can balance the yin (cooling) and yang (heat) in the human body.
  • Dried Chinese yam: When it comes to texture, this white root is like a combination of yucca and okra. It has been known to help with digestion and is a great stomach pain reliever.
  • Dried seafood: You can turn sâm bổ lượng into a savory soup rather than a dessert drink by adding some dried squid, scallops, or abalone.
  • Pork bones: Like dried seafood, pork bones are ideal for a savory version of this dish.

FAQs

For people who want to learn more about this fascinating dessert, I’ve gathered some frequently asked questions here.

While it’s considered a health-giving dish, too much of a good thing can also be harmful. Some people might be allergic to a certain ingredient, and excess consumption can also cause digestive issues.

Yes, this dessert drink is good for pregnant women. Still, be aware of any ingredients that might cause allergic reactions or have unexpected interactions with certain medications.

Though it’s not a weight loss product, you can consume it as part of a balanced diet. In addition, some ingredients like lotus seeds are rich in protein and low in calories, which help sate hunger and reduce food consumption.

You can omit or replace sugar with other alternative sweeteners, such as honey and stevia. Doing this will reduce the calorie intake, but your dessert will be less sweet than the traditional recipe.

Yes, you can happily enjoy sâm bổ lượng when following a vegan diet, as it consists of no animal-derived products.

Enjoy A Healthy Herbal Dessert!

Chè sâm bổ lượng is the ideal recipe when you want to take a break from the typical sugary desserts. Not only does it taste like a dream, but it also brings many health benefits, thanks to a variety of medicinal ingredients.

Try making this dish for your loved ones on a hot summer day; I bet that they’ll devour it faster than the speed of light! If you’ve succeeded in making this sweet delight, please let me know in the comments. And yes, liking and sharing today’s post is greatly appreciated!

Iced Dessert Drink With Herbal Ingredients Recipe

Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng Recipe (Vietnamese Herbal Dessert)

Chè sâm bổ lượng is artfully crafted with a harmonious blend of herbal ingredients to tantalize your taste buds and nourish your body. Make your own dessert to experience the perfect fusion of natural sweetness.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Chinese, Vietnamese
Keyword: Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng, Vietnamese Herbal Dessert
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Dietary Preference: Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 591kcal

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Ladle

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric
  • 8.8 ounces fresh or dried lotus seeds
  • 8.8 ounces rock sugar
  • 7 ounces lotus roots
  • 3.5 ounces Chinese water chestnut
  • 2.65 ounces dried red dates
  • 1.8 ounces dried longan
  • 1 ounce dried goji berries
  • 1 ounce Chinese pearl barley
  • 0.5 ounces seaweed
  • 0.5 ounces chia seeds
  • 1 dried snow fungus
  • Banana extract

Instructions 

  • Soak the pearl barley in boiling water for 30 minutes. Change the water when it has cooled. Drain the pearl barley afterward.
    Soak The Pearl Barley
  • Soak the lotus roots and water chestnuts in an ice bath for 20 minutes.
    Soak The Lotus Roots
  • Rinse the rest of the ingredients (seaweed, goji berries, red dates, etc.), then soak them in water for 20 minutes.
    Once the snow fungus has softened, cut it into bite-sized slices.
    Rinse The Rest Of Ingredients
  • Pour water into the pot. Then, add the lotus seeds and pearl barley and cook them for 30 minutes over medium heat.
    Cover the pot to help the seeds soften quicker and prevent too much water from evaporating during boiling.
    Cook The Sweet Soup
  • After 30 minutes or when the lotus seeds and barley have tenderized, add the lotus roots, water chestnuts, and red dates into the pot.
    Cover and continue to cook for 20 minutes
    Add The Lotus Roots Water Chestnuts
  • Next, add the longan, snow fungus, and rock sugar. Cook for another 5 minutes over medium-low heat.
    Add The Longan Snow Fungus
  • Add seaweed, goji berries, and chia seeds. Cook them for about 2 to 3 minutes, then cut the heat.
    Add Seaweed Goji Berries
  • Allow the sweet soup to cool, then ladle it into a bowl or cup. Add a few drops of banana flavoring oil to boost the taste and aroma.
    And Chia Seeds
  • Serve chè sâm bổ lượng chilled, or add some ice cubes.
    Serve The Che Sam Bo Luong

Video

Notes

  • The estimated total time is for making 4 servings.
  • You can replace chia seeds with basil seeds. Note that chia seeds are generally smaller than basil seeds after swelling, so you might need to change the amount used accordingly. The soaking time for basil seeds is about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Be careful with the amount of sugar that you add to the soup. Too much sugar can cause your dessert to be overwhelmingly sweet.
  • If you find it hard to purchase all the necessary ingredients, you can look for the Ching Bo Leung soup mix at a Chinese store.

Nutrition

Calories: 591kcal | Carbohydrates: 135g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 1357mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 4mg
Richie

Richie

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert

Education

Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Vietnamese and Asian cuisines with intensive training and hands-on approach.

Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam

  • Program: Bartender
  • Focus: Basic knowledge on how to store, preserve and select ingredients, and practice cocktails, mocktails, hot and cold drinks.
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Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.

Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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