TCM Food Temperature Lookup
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, every food has a temperature: hot, warm, neutral, cool or cold. This is about the effect the food has on your body, not how hot it is on the plate. Search 430+ foods, from everyday groceries to ingredients from Latin, Caribbean, African, Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian and European kitchens, to see each one's TCM nature and actions, plus its Western nutrition highlights. Looking for meal ideas? Browse TCM Recipes by Temperature, or learn about the Five Elements.
Type any food to see its TCM temperature, actions and nutrition highlights.
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Filter by TCM pattern (diagnosis) ▾
Tick the pattern your acupuncturist has talked with you about. Foods shown are traditionally used to support all ticked patterns.
Hot strongly warming · Warm gently warming · Neutral balanced · Cool gently cooling · Cold strongly cooling.
Cooking changes temperature: raw and chilled foods are cooler; roasting, grilling and warming spices make food warmer. Sources sometimes differ; this tool uses the most common classification. Packaged foods and some world ingredients are not in classical texts, so their temperatures are estimated from their flavor, ingredients and how they are made.
Pattern filters are a general guide based on traditional food actions, not a diagnosis. Educational only, not medical advice. Ask your acupuncturist or doctor what suits you, especially if pregnant, on medication or managing a health condition.