Tremella
Tremella fuciformis · 银耳
Mushrooms. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Snow fungus, White jelly fungus, Silver ear fungus, Yin er
Pinyin: Yín Ěr
Spanish: Hongo de nieve
A white, jelly-like fungus used in Chinese desserts and soups, valued for moisture and dry coughs.
Did you know? In China it is nicknamed 'poor man's bird's nest' because its soft, jelly-like texture resembles edible bird's nest.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sore throat & cough. Used for dry cough and dry throat in Chinese medicine. Human studies are lacking, so the effect is mostly traditional.Traditional proof
- Skin. Some lab studies and small trials report better skin moisture. Claims of anti-aging are hype.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
In Chinese medicine, tremella (yin er) has long been used to nourish yin (cooling, moistening body fluids) and to calm dry coughs and dry throat.
How it is classified
How people take it
Usually cooked into sweet soups or desserts. Dried powder and extracts are also sold, but studied amounts are unclear.
Food and powder.
Where to get it
Grows on dead hardwood in warm, humid regions, especially in China and Southeast Asia. Sold dried in white, brittle pieces. Some dried products are treated with sulfur, so check the label.
Be careful
Very low risk as food. Rare allergic reactions are possible. Poorly processed dried products may carry sulfur residue.
Avoid if: mushroom allergy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Often cooked together in sweet Chinese soups for moisture and flavor.
- Works well together
A common partner in the same sweet soups and desserts.
The honest take
Tremella is a safe, low-calorie food with a long history in desserts and soups. Its skin and cough claims come mostly from tradition, lab work and small studies. Anti-aging hype is not proven.