Great Heat (Dashu)
Summer heat is at its peak, so food should be light, fresh, and moistening.
Script
Hi, this is Great Heat, Dashu. The classic meaning is simple. Great Heat is the midpoint term of the sixth lunar month. It points back to Lesser Heat. Heat is divided into lesser and greater, and mid-month is the greater. In this season, people often keep the table light and fresh. Bitter melon is a traditional summer choice. Mung bean sprouts bring a crisp, refreshing taste. Watermelon is a familiar fresh fruit for hot days. A home-style dish is stir-fried pumpkin with mung bean sprouts. At the same time, go easy on overly greasy and heavy food. Also, do not overdo iced drinks or frozen desserts. Watermelon is best in moderation. If you want to cook along with the season, look for the Great Heat Light & Fresh Ingredient Pack.
On the table this season
- Bitter Melon (Kugua)cold
Its naturally bitter taste is traditionally eaten at this time of year and is common on summer tables.
- Pumpkin (Nangua)warm
Soft in texture and well suited to simple home-style stir-fries.
- Mung Bean Sprouts (Lüdouya)cool
Crisp and refreshing, making them a good fit for hot summer days.
- Watermelon (Xigua)cold
Full of juice and traditionally eaten as a fresh summer fruit.
- Duck (Yarou)cool
Tender and flavorful, and often used in slow-cooked summer dishes.
Cook it
Braised Duck with Bitter Melon (Kugua Men Ya)
Ingredients: Bitter Melon (Kugua), Duck (Yarou), Ginger, Scallion, Cooking Wine, Light Soy Sauce, Cooking Oil, Salt
- Wash and chop the duck into pieces. Remove the seeds from the bitter melon and cut into chunks. Slice the ginger and cut the scallion into sections.
- Heat a little oil in a pan, add the ginger and duck, and stir-fry briefly. Add cooking wine to reduce the strong aroma.
- Add light soy sauce and enough water, cover, and braise until the duck starts to become tender.
- Add the bitter melon and continue braising for a short time. Season with salt and finish with scallion before serving.
Stir-Fried Pumpkin with Mung Bean Sprouts (Nangua Chao Lüdouya)
Ingredients: Pumpkin (Nangua), Mung Bean Sprouts (Lüdouya), Garlic, Cooking Oil, Salt
- Peel and thinly slice the pumpkin, rinse the mung bean sprouts, and mince the garlic.
- Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the garlic until fragrant, then add the pumpkin slices.
- When the pumpkin softens slightly, add the mung bean sprouts and stir-fry quickly together.
- Once the sprouts are just cooked, season with salt, toss well, and serve.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly greasy and heavy food.
- Do not overdo iced drinks or frozen desserts, and enjoy watermelon in moderation.
- Try to keep regular mealtimes instead of snacking all day because of the heat.
Classical source
大暑，六月中。解見小暑。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Greater Heat is the midpoint term of the sixth lunar month. The text points back to Lesser Heat: heat is divided into lesser and greater, and mid-month is the greater.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.