Minor Heat (Xiaoshu)
Choose foods that are light, fresh, and gently moistening, and enjoy the flavors traditionally eaten in summer.
Script
Hello, and welcome to Minor Heat, Xiaoshu. In the classic Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie, Xiaoshu opens the sixth lunar month. “Shu” means heat. Heat is divided into lesser and greater, with lesser heat early in the month and greater heat at mid-month, so the heat is still mild. As a summer tradition, people often choose light and fresh foods now. Luffa is tender and in season, with a fresh, delicate texture. Water spinach is a common summer vegetable that feels light with meals. Lotus seeds are mild in flavor and suit summer well. A simple family dish is Garlic Water Spinach, stir-fried with garlic and a little millet chili. Go easy on overly greasy and heavy food, and do not overdo iced drinks and frozen desserts. For easy seasonal cooking, look to the Minor Heat Fresh Seasonal Ingredient Pack.
On the table this season
- Luffa (Sigua)cool
Tender and in season, with a fresh and delicate texture
- Water spinach (Kongxincai)cool
A common summer vegetable that is light and easy to enjoy with meals
- Lotus seeds (Lianzi)neutral
Mild in flavor and well suited to summer
- Millet chili (Xiaomi jiao)hot
Use a small amount to add flavor and make meals more appealing
- Bream (Bianyu)neutral
Fine, tender flesh that suits clear soups
Cook it
Garlic Water Spinach (Suanrong Kongxincai)
Ingredients: Water spinach, Garlic, Cooking oil, Salt, Millet chili
- Trim and wash the water spinach, then cut it into sections. Mince the garlic and slice the millet chili into rings.
- Heat oil in a wok or pan, then add the garlic and millet chili over low heat until fragrant.
- Add the water spinach and stir-fry over high heat until evenly mixed and the stems begin to soften.
- Season with a little salt, stir well, and serve.
Luffa and Bream Soup (Sigua Bianyu Tang)
Ingredients: Luffa, Bream, Ginger, Scallion, Salt, Cooking oil, Lotus seeds
- Clean the bream. Peel and cut the luffa into chunks. Soak the lotus seeds briefly. Slice the ginger and cut the scallion into sections.
- Heat a little oil in a pot and lightly pan-fry the bream on both sides, then add the ginger and scallion.
- Pour in water, add the lotus seeds, bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat for a while.
- Add the luffa and continue cooking until tender, then season with a little salt and serve.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly greasy and heavy food.
- Do not overdo iced drinks and frozen desserts; warm or gently cool foods and drinks fit the season better.
- Use spicy seasonings in moderation rather than making everything intensely flavored.
Classical source
小暑，六月節。《說文》曰：暑，熱也。就熱之中，分為大小，月初為小，月中為大，今則熱氣猶小也。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Lesser Heat opens the sixth lunar month. "Shu" means heat. Heat is divided into lesser and greater, lesser early in the month and greater at mid-month, so the heat is still mild.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.