Dried Chinese Yam (Shan Yao) | (500g)

About

Shan Yao, known in English as Chinese Yam, is a mild, slightly sweet tuber and a long-standing staple across East Asian kitchens and herbal traditions. Its unassuming flavour and versatility make it an everyday ingredient for home cooks.

If you cook nourishing soups or herbal tonics often, this bulk 500g bag is the practical and economical choice.

Shop all Large Loose Culinary Herbs

Potential Benefits

• Traditional Heritage: Shan Yao is one of the most widely used ingredients in Chinese cooking and herbal practice, and appears in many classical combinations.
• Naturally Sweet: Traditional texts describe its flavour as sweet, and it carries a mild, clean sweetness in a finished dish.
• Balance: In traditional classification it is described as neutral, and belongs among the gentler herbs.
• Distinctive Texture: The starchy slices soften into a creamy thickness that gives congee and slow-cooked soups their body.
• Versatile: It suits savoury and sweet cooking alike, from stews and stir-fries to yam paste and sweet dumplings.

Recommended Dosage

We recommend around 10g per portion. Rehydrate the slices first by soaking in water until soft and pliable, then use as you like.

• Soups and stews: Adds mild sweetness and a starchy body. Common in traditional herbal soups alongside meat, vegetables and other herbs.
• Stir-fries: Slice or dice and add to stir-fried vegetables and proteins for texture.
• Congee or porridge: Cook with rice or other grains for a creamy, thick texture and a subtle sweetness.
• Desserts: Steam or boil, then mash and sweeten to make yam paste or yam balls for pastries, cakes and sweet dumplings.
• Herbal teas and infusions: Simmer in water, alone or combined with other herbs.

Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. With a pack this size, decanting a working amount into a smaller jar keeps the bulk sealed for longer.

Other Formats of This Herb

Shan Yao is stocked in three forms:

• This 500g bag is the sliced dried root in the bulk size
• Dried Chinese Yam (Shan Yao) | 100g the same sliced root in a smaller pack
• Shan Yao Concentrated Granules | 100g bottle dissolves in hot water in seconds, though it cannot be cooked with

What to Cook It With

Shan Yao is one of a group of mild, starchy ingredients traditionally cooked together in congee and tonic soups. All are stocked here in matching 500g packs:

• Dried Lotus Seeds (Bai Lian Zi) | 500g the closest partner to Shan Yao in this group
• Dried Euryale Seeds (Qian Shi) | 500g almost always used alongside lotus seed and yam
• Dried Coix Seeds (Yi Yi Ren) | 500g the fourth ingredient in the classic combination
• Dried Jujube Dates (Hong Zao) | 500g added for natural sweetness in slow-cooked soups

Why Choose Vita?

At Vita Herbal Nutrition, we focus on providing high-quality herbs, carefully chosen for the kitchen and for traditional preparation.

We are proud to offer a 100% sulphur-free range. Sulphur is widely used in the industry to improve appearance and extend shelf life, but it alters the natural composition of the herb and may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. You can read more on our non-sulphur treated herbs page.

Our herbs are sourced from genuine DaoDi-grown Chinese plants, cultivated in clean, sustainable environments. Through trusted grower partnerships held since 2010, we select material from the best growing regions, harvested at the right time.

FAQ

Is Shan Yao always used with other herbs?
Mostly, yes. It is rarely the sole ingredient, and works best within a blend that brings balance and depth.

Do I need to soak it?
Yes. Soak the slices in warm water until flexible, usually 15 to 20 minutes, before adding to cooking. For a long-simmered soup it can go in dry.

What does it taste like?
Mild and lightly sweet with a faint starchy quality, which is why it pairs well rather than dominating.

Can I use it in sweet dishes?
Yes. Steamed and mashed, it becomes the base for yam paste and yam balls used in Chinese pastries and sweet dumplings.

What is the difference between the 500g and 100g packs?
Only the quantity. Both are the same sliced root, so the 100g pack is simply the smaller option.

How should I store it?
Sealed, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. With a pack this size, decanting a working amount into a smaller jar keeps the bulk sealed for longer.