Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa is The Best Cough Syrup. It’s herbal and contains minty honey and actually tastes good. I’ve been using this since the 80s, when I was given some from an acquaintance from Hong Kong who heard my relentless bronchitis coughing.
But then when I lived in Israel I ran out. My mom was planning to come for a visit from New York, so I tasked her with getting me a new bottle. She dutifully went to Chinatown with the hanzi (kanji ) of the product name, along with Xerox copies of the box that I sent her, and found a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) pharmacy and tea shop.
I should add that this was 1992-ish––before Amazon and even before email, so it’s not like now when people are increasingly exposed to new remedies or food. The lady in the pharmacy was so taken aback by this older, non-Asian woman with the crazy story about buying Pei Pa Koa for her kanji-writing daughter living in the Middle East. She invited her to sit and have tea. How sweet and gracious is that?
Back in Los Angeles, I still always have this on hand. I think the formula may have changed a bit, maybe to align with federal import requirements, or maybe it has something to do with Hong Kong’s handover to mainland China? Who knows?
Last time I purchased it on Amazon. Sadly, no chance to be invited for tea.