seasonal food. traditional chinese medicine.

The Phoenix Art Museum was a complete score. We LOVED it. Sorry these pictures are from my camera phone...My battery on the camera died right before walking in. Might have been smart to check it before hand!

We quickly found the museum's Asian exhibits. It something we definitely didn't plan, but it fascinating to go through the exhibit with 15+ educated Korean men. They were able to give us background on the history of certain pieces that we would have never known otherwise. 

Transcripts from an ancient Buddhist Monk

Not Asian....But I love it!

Korean Tiger:  symbol of good luck and protection

Real Brazilian money

So eventually, the topic turned somehow to Ancient Chinese medicine. Serendipitously, I came across a blog today talking about how Chinese Medicine utilizes "seasonal eating". 

How each season has foods that coincide well with the body. I loved the explanation behind the selection of foods, but here's what's advised by traditional Chinese medicine for each season:

Autumn - Cool & sour foods: sesame, honey, dairy products, pineapple, pear, loquat fruit, sugar cane, lily, banana and white fungus

Winter - Cold & bitter foods: mutton, goose, duck, Chinese yam, glutinous rice, dates, eggs, longan flesh, black fungus, leek and nuts

Spring - Warm & sweet foods: spinach, celery, onion, lettuce, mustard leaf, Chinese yam, wheat, dates, peanuts, onions, cilantro, bamboo shoot and mushrooms

Summer - Hot & pungent foods: bitter gourd, watermelon, peach, strawberry, tomato, mung bean, cucumber, wax gourd, pumpkin, ginger, lotus root, lotus seed, job's tears, and Chinese yam

Read more at Shen Nong.