When your throat feels scratchy, your cough won't quit, or you just need a soothing sip of something herbal, the Asian wellness aisle offers a remarkable range of options. But not all herbal remedies are created equal, and choosing the right one for your specific symptoms makes all the difference.

Here we compare four favourites available at MyAsianStore: Fritillary & Loquat Syrup with Monk Fruit, African Sea-Coconut Herbal Menthol Candy, Liuh Der Herbal Candy, and Poon Gor Soe Natural Herb Loquat Extract. Each has its own history, herbal philosophy and ideal use case.

Fritillary & Loquat Syrup with Monk Fruit

The product

This time-honoured TCM lung tonic is a modern twist on the classic Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao formula, sweetened with monk fruit instead of traditional honey or sugar. The syrup combines Sichuan Fritillary (Chuan Bei Mu), Loquat Leaf (Pi Pa Ye) and Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) to gently moisten the lungs, clear heat, and soothe dry, irritating coughs.

Sichuan Fritillary is considered the premier TCM herb for unproductive, lingering coughs: it moistens the Lungs, transforms sticky phlegm and stops dry cough. Loquat Leaf clears Lung Heat and descends rebellious Qi, soothing hot, scratchy throats. Monk Fruit adds a cooling sweetness that soothes dry throats while clearing heat.

Best for

This syrup is specifically formulated for dry cough patterns: little or no phlegm, a dry or scratchy throat, and coughs that worsen at night or in dry environments. It's ideal for post-illness lingering coughs, dry indoor air in autumn and winter, and scratchy throats during seasonal transitions.

Important note

This syrup is not suitable for wet, phlegmy coughs with copious thin or white mucus, as the moistening herbs may worsen that condition.

Available at MyAsianStore: 10 oz bottle, made in Taiwan

African Sea-Coconut Herbal Menthol Candy

The product

African Sea-Coconut Herbal Menthol Candy is a classic throat candy that has been a trusted comfort remedy across Asia for generations. The star ingredient, African Sea-Coconut (海底椒, hai di ye), is a tropical palm fruit used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its cooling and soothing properties, particularly for the throat and respiratory system.

The candy combines sea-coconut with menthol, peppermint oil and fennel oil for a gentle, aromatic cooling sensation and a mild, pleasant sweetness, not medicinal or harsh. The menthol clears the throat and reduces irritation, while peppermint oil soothes and helps open nasal passages.

Historically, African Sea-Coconut was even documented in the Smithsonian Institution's collection as an "excellent cough mixture and lung tonic" for coughs, bronchitis, influenza, colds, sore throat, asthma, tickling throat, whooping cough, catarrh, chronic cough and loss of voice.

Best for

Perfect for temporary relief of minor throat irritation and discomfort. It's especially useful during cold and flu season, for singers and speakers whose voices are under strain, and for on-the-go comfort in a convenient individually wrapped format. It's produced in a GMP-certified factory in Indonesia.

Available at MyAsianStore: 40g pack, 16 pieces, made in Indonesia

Liuh Der Herbal Candy

The product

Liuh Der has been crafting Taiwan's finest herbal and fruit candies since 1967, over 50 years of turning traditional botanical ingredients into portable wellness treats rooted in Taiwanese herbal heritage.

Liuh Der's Herbal Candy (青草糘, Green Herb Candy) captures the soothing, cooling essence of traditional Taiwanese herbal tea in an individually wrapped candy. The key herbal ingredients include:

• Honeysuckle (金銀花): cooling and cleansing, clears heat and detoxifies in TCM, with a delicate floral sweetness
• Monk Fruit (羅漢果): a natural sweetener with throat-soothing properties
• Loquat (柇枇): a classic TCM herb for respiratory comfort, with a gentle fruity undertone
• Honey (蜂蜜): natural sweetness with soothing, comforting properties
• Menthol / Mint (薄荷): a clean, cooling finish that refreshes and invigorates

The candy contains real botanical extracts with no artificial flavours. Enjoy it as a classic dissolve-in-mouth candy, or drop one into hot water for an instant herbal tea.

Best for

Ideal for everyday throat comfort: dry air, after long talks, or whenever your throat needs soothing. It also works well as an after-meal palate cleanser, a travel companion for dry aeroplane cabins, or a gentle herbal treat for anyone who prefers candy over syrup.

If you like the format, Liuh Der's range goes further: Luo Han Guo Loquat Candy leans sweeter and more loquat-forward, while Green Propolis Loquat Throat Drops add propolis for extra throat support.

Available at MyAsianStore: 200g bag, made in Taiwan

Poon Gor Soe Natural Herb Loquat Extract

The product

Poon Gor Soe (潘高壽) is one of the most historical Chinese medicine manufacturers established in Hong Kong, founded in 1890 by Poon Bai Shi during the late Qing dynasty. The brand's signature product, Pei Pa Lo (川貝柇枇露), was developed by Poon Yu Sheng, the founder's son. The family moved to Hong Kong during World War II, and the company began its Hong Kong operation in the early 1950s.

Poon Gor Soe's Pei Pa Lo is so well known that most people associate Chinese loquat cough syrup with this brand. It's popular across Southeast Asia, Europe and North America, and the company uses genuine, quality Chinese herbs with a decoction process that follows GMP standards.

The extract contains water, loquat extract, honey, almond extract, lotus root, licorice and mint flavour, giving a sweet honey and loquat profile with a layered herbal finish.

Best for

This concentrated extract is designed to be mixed with water or tea for a comforting drink at home. It's ideal if you prefer a traditional liquid herbal remedy with a rich history, or want a soothing, sweet herbal beverage warm or chilled. It suits cough and throat relief in a format where you control the strength and serving.

Available at MyAsianStore: 6 fl oz bottle, made in Hong Kong

Comparison at a glance

When to choose which

Choose Fritillary & Loquat Syrup with Monk Fruit if:

• You have a dry, tickling, unproductive cough that lingers
• Your throat feels scratchy and dry, especially at night
• You're recovering from a cold or flu and the cough won't go away
• You want a sugar-conscious option, sweetened with monk fruit
• You prefer a syrup format for maximum coating and soothing

Choose African Sea-Coconut Herbal Menthol Candy if:

• You need quick, on-the-go relief for minor throat irritation
• You want a portable remedy through cold and flu season
• You're a singer, speaker or teacher who uses your voice heavily
• You enjoy a cooling, menthol-forward sensation
• You want a mildly sweet, not medicinal taste

Choose Liuh Der Herbal Candy if:

• You want everyday throat comfort in a convenient candy
• You prefer a floral, honeyed and cooling flavour journey
• You're travelling, especially on flights with dry cabin air
• You want a versatile option that can also become an instant herbal tea
• You appreciate Taiwanese herbal heritage and real botanical extracts

Choose Poon Gor Soe Natural Herb Loquat Extract if:

• You want a traditional, time-honoured remedy with over 130 years of history
• You prefer a liquid extract you can mix with water or tea
• You enjoy a sweet honey and loquat flavour with layered herbal notes
• You want to control the strength of your serving
• You're looking for a comforting, warming drink for cough and throat relief

The takeaway

Each of these four brings something different. The Fritillary & Loquat Syrup is your go-to for stubborn dry coughs with a modern, monk-fruit-sweetened twist. African Sea-Coconut Candy delivers portable, menthol-cooling relief whenever you need it. Liuh Der Herbal Candy offers everyday Taiwanese herbal wellness in a delicious candy format. And Poon Gor Soe Loquat Extract connects you to over a century of Hong Kong herbal tradition.

The best choice depends on your symptoms, your preferred format, and the kind of herbal experience you're after. Explore all four at MyAsianStore and find the remedy that feels right for you.

These products are traditional herbal foods and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If symptoms persist, please speak with a healthcare professional.