Smilax Glabra Root

Plant

Smilax glabra root (tu fu ling) — Chinese herbal medicinal, lightly bitter, used in Cantonese cooling soups and turtle jelly.

Where it comes from

Southern China; Wuzhou (Guangxi) is the center for guilinggao (turtle jelly).

In the kitchen

Smilax glabra root, known as tu fu ling, is a lightly bitter root used in Cantonese cooling soups and turtle jelly. It is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is particularly associated with the Wuzhou region in Guangxi. The root is valued for its purported health benefits.