Rain Water (Yushui)
Choose foods that are light, fresh, and gentle, following the rising energy of spring rain.
Script
Hello, and welcome to Rain Water, or Yushui. The classic meaning says this is the midpoint term of the first lunar month. Spring belongs to wood, and wood is born of water. Once the east wind thaws the ice, it falls as rain, so Rain Water follows the Beginning of Spring. In everyday seasonal tradition, people choose light, fresh, and gentle foods. Shepherd’s purse is a tender early-spring green, often used for a fresh taste of the season. Celtuce stem lettuce is crisp and refreshing, and Chinese yam is mild and soft, easy for home cooking. A simple dish for the table is Shepherd’s Purse and Tofu Soup, light and familiar. On damp rainy days, go easy on raw or chilled food, and also on overly greasy, heavy, or very spicy dishes. If you’d like to cook along, look to the Rain Water Seasonal Tasting Ingredient Pack.
On the table this season
- Shepherd's Purse (Jicai)cool
A tender seasonal wild green traditionally eaten in early spring for a fresh taste of the season.
- Celtuce Stem Lettuce (Wosun)cool
Crisp, tender, and refreshing, it suits the Rain Water period.
- Chinese Yam (Shanyao)neutral
Mild and soft in texture, it suits simple spring home cooking.
- Crucian Carp (Jiyu)neutral
Delicate and flavorful, it suits light everyday dishes.
- Goji Leaf (Gouqiye)cool
A common spring tender leaf, traditionally eaten in soups for a fresh, easy flavor.
Cook it
Shepherd's Purse and Tofu Soup
Ingredients: Shepherd's Purse, Tofu, Egg, Starch, Sesame Oil, Salt
- Wash and finely chop the shepherd's purse, cut the tofu into small cubes, and beat the egg.
- Bring water to a boil, add the tofu first and simmer briefly, then add the shepherd's purse.
- Season with a little salt, stir in the starch slurry gently to thicken slightly.
- Pour in the egg in a thin stream to form ribbons, then turn off the heat and finish with a few drops of sesame oil.
Braised Crucian Carp with Celtuce
Ingredients: Celtuce, Crucian Carp, Ginger, Scallion, Cooking Wine, Salt
- Clean the crucian carp, peel and cut the celtuce into strips, slice the ginger, and cut the scallion into sections.
- Heat a little oil in a pan and lightly sear the fish on both sides until pale golden, then add the ginger, scallion, and cooking wine.
- Add enough water, put in the celtuce, cover, and cook until the fish is done and the flavors come together.
- Add a little salt at the end, reduce the broth slightly, and serve.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly greasy and heavy food.
- Eat less very spicy and drying strongly flavored dishes.
- On damp rainy days, avoid having too much raw or chilled food.
Classical source
雨水，正月中。天一生水，春始屬木，然生木者，必水也，故立春後繼之雨水，且東風既解凍，則散而為雨水矣。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Rain Water is the midpoint term of the first lunar month. Spring belongs to wood, and wood is born of water; once the east wind thaws the ice, it falls as rain, so Rain Water follows the Beginning of Spring.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.