Vegetable yakuzen– category –

Green beans come into season in summer, sweet and neutral in nature, which makes them kind to the body. Seen through yakuzen, they are held to settle the gut and clear damp, which suits managing how you feel in the hot season. They work in salads, stir-fries and soups, so do bring them in while in season.

Broccoli is a nourishing vegetable that comes into season from winter into spring. In yakuzen terms it can be looked to for replenishing the Spleen and Kidney and strengthening the muscles and joints. Bringing it in as a salad or a soup is an easy way to get its nourishment and what it does. Do bring it to everyday meals and keep yourself well.

Kabocha squash comes into season from autumn into winter and is a nourishing vegetable. Seen through yakuzen, it can be looked to for rebuilding your strength and helping digestion. Simmered or in a soup, you take in its sweetness and its nourishment to good effect. Exactly right for the turn of the season and for cold weather.

Potato is held to replenish qi and be kind to the gut. It suits times when the digestive system is weak or when you feel tired. Steamed or in a soup, it gives up what it does more readily, warming you while giving you nourishment.

Oats are a convenient ingredient for taking in nourishment easily. They replenish the Spleen and Stomach and help digestion, which makes them ideal for breakfast or a light meal. They also help with constipation and a poor appetite, and are easy to bring into a health-conscious life. Being open to all sorts of treatments, sweet or savoury, hot or cold, is part of their appeal.

Glutinous rice is an ingredient that can be looked to for rebuilding strength and settling the gut. It helps with loose stools and low strength, and suits anyone who feels the cold. Used in okowa, in mochi or in cooked rice dishes, it gives depth and sweetness. As a traditional Japanese ingredient, it is worth bringing into everyday meals with health in mind.

Japanese short-grain rice is held to replenish how the Spleen and Stomach work and to ease poor digestion and tiredness. It is worth bringing in when you have no appetite or want to rebuild your strength. Used in porridge or a soup it is gentle on the gut and suits replenishing nourishment.

Loquat is the classic fruit of early summer, and can be looked to for moistening the Lung and easing a dry throat. It settles how the stomach works and encourages digestion, which makes it exactly right for the hot season. Eaten as it is, or made into jam or a smoothie, it brings a fresh taste to the everyday table.

Persimmon is held to clear heat and moisten the Lung, which suits the season when a dry throat and dryness are on your mind. It can also be looked to for replenishing the body's fluids and easing a dry mouth and an odd feeling in the throat. Eaten in season as it is, or made into a dessert, it helps with seasonal care.

Pear comes into season from the end of summer into autumn, and its juiciness is its appeal. Seen through yakuzen, it is held to ease discomfort in the throat and Lung in the dry season. It works as juice, as a dessert and in salads, so it is worth bringing in at the turn of the season.