White Fungus Sweet Soup/Dessert (雪耳凊润糖水）

Last weekend, i made this white fungus (also commonly known as snow ear fungus) sweet soup/dessert. 

Besides it's tasty, many Chinese believe that this after meal soup dessert is nourishing especially for the lungs (soothing purposes like clearing heat in the lungs and relieve from dry coughs) as well as helps on anti-aging. 

It is said that white fungus's collagen content is comparable to bird's nest and in view of it's cheaper, it has been considered by many Chinese as a good alternate for bird nests. 

  
Ingredients:

• 2.5L of water
• 3/4 cup of white sugar (or use ~ 30g rock sugar if you have)
• 2 or 3 pieces of dried white fungus/snow ear fungus (雪耳）
• 1/4 cup dried Lotus Seed (莲子） 
• 1/4 cup dried Lilli bulbs (百合）
• A handful of dried Longan (龙眼肉） 

Steps:

• Soak snow ear fungus in water for 30min-1hr until softened.  Discard water and trim the firm part from its bottom 
• Wash & rinse all the other ingredients under running water
• Bing the water to a boil in a pot
• Add in all the ingredients (except sugar), cook and simmer for about 2 hours
• Add in the sugar and continue simmer for another 15-30min
• Serve hot or cold by putting it in the refrigerator