Cold Dew (Hanlu)
Moisten autumn dryness, add a little warmth, choose fewer cold foods and more cooked dishes, and eat at an unhurried pace.
Script
Hello, I’m your guide to Cold Dew, or Hanlu. The classic says Cold Dew opens the ninth lunar month. The dew has turned cold and is about to freeze. In everyday eating, this season calls for a little warmth and more cooked dishes. You can try sesame in congee or in sweets and snacks. Persimmon is a fresh seasonal fruit, best in small amounts. Radish suits the season better when cooked. A good dish to make is Braised Beef with Radish, slow-simmered until flavorful. Dry-Pot Cauliflower is another simple seasonal dish. Take it easy on very cold or raw foods, and do not overeat fruit. Keep evening meals simple, with less oil and fewer rich dishes. If you want to cook along, take a look at the Cold Dew Autumn Ingredient Pack below.
On the table this season
- Sesame (Zhima)neutral
As late autumn becomes windy and dry, it is traditionally eaten in congee or added to sweets and snacks.
- Persimmon (Shizi)cold
This seasonal fruit is ripe now and suits enjoying in small amounts while it is at its freshest.
- Radish (Luobo)cool
A common autumn vegetable that fits the season better when cooked.
- Beef (Niurou)warm
As the weather turns cooler, it suits slow-cooked and braised dishes.
- Cauliflower (Hua Cai)neutral
Fresh and tender in season, it works well in simple stir-fries or dry-pot style dishes.
Cook it
Braised Beef with Radish (Luobo Dun Niurou)
Ingredients: beef, radish, ginger, scallion, cooking wine, light soy sauce, salt
- Cut the beef into chunks, place in cold water, bring to a boil to remove foam, then take out and set aside.
- Peel and cut the radish into chunks, slice the ginger, and cut the scallion into sections.
- Put the beef, ginger, and scallion into a pot, then add water, a little cooking wine, and light soy sauce.
- Once the beef starts to become tender, add the radish and continue simmering over low heat until flavorful.
- Add a little salt before serving, then let it rest briefly with the heat off before dishing up.
Dry-Pot Cauliflower (Gan Guo Hua Cai)
Ingredients: cauliflower, pork belly, garlic, dried chili, light soy sauce, salt, cooking oil
- Break the cauliflower into small florets, wash well, blanch briefly in boiling water, and drain.
- Slice the pork belly thinly, slice the garlic, and cut the dried chili into sections.
- Add a little oil to the wok, cook the pork belly until fragrant, then stir-fry the garlic and dried chili.
- Add the cauliflower and stir-fry over high heat, seasoning with a little light soy sauce and salt.
- Cook until the edges are lightly charred and fragrant, then serve.
Go easy on
- Eat fewer very cold or raw foods, and do not overeat fruit.
- Use less overly hot, drying, and heavily spicy cooking, and keep flavors moderate.
- Keep evening meals simple, with less oil and fewer rich dishes.
Classical source
寒露，九月節。露氣寒冷，將凝結也。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Cold Dew opens the ninth lunar month: the dew has turned cold and is about to freeze.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.