24 Solar Terms Food Therapy Guide
The ancient Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气), each marking a shift in climate, agriculture, and the body's needs. For over 2,000 years, families have adjusted their tables to match these rhythms — eating warming stews in deep winter, cooling mung beans in peak summer, and nourishing soups when the seasons turn.
This guide collects all 24 terms in one place. Each page covers the term's cultural origins, TCM dietary principles, and a complete seasonal menu — hot dishes, cold dishes, soups, staples, snacks, and teas — to help you eat in harmony with nature's calendar.
Spring (春)
Awaken yang qi, soothe the liver, and welcome fresh greens.
Lichun
立春 · Start of Spring
Awaken yang qi and soothe the liver with chive pockets, spring pancakes, and rose tea.
Yushui
雨水 · Rain Water
Strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness as rainfall increases and spring deepens.
Jingzhe
惊蛰 · Awakening of Insects
Clear liver heat and support the lungs as spring thunder awakens the earth.
Chunfen
春分 · Spring Equinox
Balance yin and yang, harmonize the liver and spleen following Sun Simiao's wisdom.
Qingming
清明 · Pure Brightness
Resolve dampness with light nourishment — qingtuan, snail soup, and spring tea.
Guyu
谷雨 · Grain Rain
Remove dampness and protect the liver with toon shoots, grain rain tea, and peony soup.
Summer (夏)
Clear heat, nourish the heart, and stay cool with refreshing foods.
Lixia
立夏 · Start of Summer
Clear heat and nourish the heart with eggs, sour plum drinks, and cooling soups.
Xiaoman
小满 · Grain Buds
Clear heat and resolve dampness with steamed eggplant, bitter herbs, and mung beans.
Mangzhong
芒种 · Grain in Ear
Strengthen the spleen and prevent summer-heat with sour plum soup and coix seed.
Xiazhi
夏至 · Summer Solstice
Clear heat, nourish yin, and calm the heart with noodles, lotus seed tea, and winter melon.
Xiaoshu
小暑 · Minor Heat
Strengthen the spleen and clear heat with eel, lotus root, and millet congee.
Dashu
大暑 · Major Heat
Clear heat, resolve dampness, and boost qi with grass jelly, mung bean porridge, and old duck soup.
Autumn (秋)
Nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and prepare for cooler days.
Liqiu
立秋 · Start of Autumn
Moisten the lungs and prevent dryness with pear, lily bulb, and white fungus soups.
Chushu
处暑 · End of Heat
Clear residual heat and moisten dryness with duck, lotus root, and lily tea.
Bailu
白露 · White Dew
Moisten dryness and nourish qi and blood with longan, lily, and pear soup.
Qiufen
秋分 · Autumn Equinox
Nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and balance the body with crab, yam, and osmanthus tea.
Hanlu
寒露 · Cold Dew
Warm the spleen and stomach, nourish yin with sesame, chestnut, and chrysanthemum tea.
Shuangjiang
霜降 · Frost's Descent
Strengthen the spleen and moisten dryness with persimmon, radish, and chestnut dishes.
Winter (冬)
Warm yang, nourish the kidneys, and store energy for the year ahead.
Lidong
立冬 · Start of Winter
Warm yang and strengthen the body with dumplings, lamb, and ginger soup.
Xiaoxue
小雪 · Minor Snow
Warm the spleen and kidneys with glutinous rice cakes, pickled vegetables, and black sesame.
Daxue
大雪 · Major Snow
Tonify qi and blood, strengthen the kidneys with lamb, beef, and goji wine.
Dongzhi
冬至 · Winter Solstice
Warm yang and nourish qi with dumplings, tangyuan, and mutton soup.
Xiaohan
小寒 · Minor Cold
Warm the kidneys and dispel cold with laba porridge, chestnuts, and aged ginger.
Dahan
大寒 · Major Cold
Warm the spleen and kidneys, consolidate essence with eight-treasure rice and warming stews.
How to Use This Guide
Find Your Current Term
Each solar term lasts about 15 days. Check the date range on each card to find which term you're currently in.
Read the Cultural Origin
Each page begins with the term's traditional meaning and history, connecting you to 2,000 years of Chinese food culture.
Follow the Dietary Principles
Learn which organ systems to support and what flavors to favor during each term, based on TCM five-element theory.
Explore the Full Menu
Each term features a complete table — hot dishes, cold dishes, soups, staples, snacks, and teas — with the TCM reason behind every choice.
This guide is for educational and cultural purposes only. Traditional Chinese food therapy is a wellness practice, not a substitute for medical treatment. If you have specific health conditions, please consult your healthcare provider before making dietary changes.