Dried White Mushroom ( tremella fuciformis )

The snow fungus may look rather delicate and ethereal, but it’s full of plant collagen and can hold up to 500 times its own weight in water, which can help our skin to stay hydrated and maintain a youthful appearance. Every Chinese girl (and boy, maybe!) will recall being fed a traditional beauty tonic . The tonic is halfway between a soup and dessert and also called ‘tong shui’, literally translated from Cantonese as sugar water, though of course I try my best to replace sugar with natural sweeteners.

Nowadays you can even get tremella face masks, creams and anti–wrinkle injections. It’s also prized for its anti–inflammatory properties and ability to soothe dry coughs.