Astragalus, Tiger Milk Mushroom & Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

When children start school, they suddenly enter a world of shared classrooms, shared germs, and shared illnesses. Children with strong constitutions tend to bounce back quickly; those who are more fragile seem to catch one thing after another — a cold becomes a cough, and the cycle repeats, leaving parents exhausted and worried. Bro Niu developed this soup specifically for children with what Chinese medicine describes as “lung qi deficiency” — a tendency toward respiratory weakness that makes them vulnerable to repeated upper respiratory infections. The key ingredient is tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi), a prized medicinal fungus native to Southeast Asia that has been used in traditional medicine for generations, particularly for lung-related concerns. Combined with the well-known immune-supporting herb astragalus (bei qi), red dates, and nourishing quail, this is a gentle, mild-tasting soup that most children will accept without complaint.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Specifically suited to children who catch colds frequently, cough for extended periods, or have respiratory sensitivity
• Suitable for all constitutional types; the soup is mild and well-balanced
• Adults can drink this soup too — it is not exclusively for children
• Pregnant women may also drink this
• Do NOT give this soup during an active cold, fever, or runny nose — this is a preventive and recuperative soup, not a treatment for acute illness
• If a child is not unwell but just needs general strengthening, 1–2 servings per week is appropriate
• Note on astragalus and codonopsis (dang shen) for children: these are medicinal herbs, not everyday food; for children, use only when there is genuine qi deficiency, and limit to 1–2 times per week at 3 qian each

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Astragalus root (bei qi / huang qi): One of the most widely used qi-tonifying herbs in Chinese medicine. Traditionally associated with strengthening the “defensive qi” (wei qi) — the body’s outer layer of protection — and supporting the spleen and lungs. Widely studied in Western research for its immunomodulatory properties.
• Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi, Lignosus rhinocerotis): Despite its Chinese name (“tiger milk lingzhi”), this is not actually a true lingzhi/reishi mushroom but rather a species of fungi in the Polyporaceae family, native to Southeast Asia. It grows from a sclerotium (a dense, underground mass) and has been used traditionally in Malaysia and Southern China for centuries, particularly for supporting respiratory health and lung function. Its nature is mild and balanced — Bro Niu notes that it can be used by anyone, regardless of constitution.
• Red dates (hong zao): Nourishing to the blood and calming to the mind; they also add natural sweetness to make the soup more palatable for children.
• Quail (an chun): A small, highly nutritious bird traditionally used to nourish the five organs and support healthy development in children.

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Astragalus root (bei qi / huang qi)	~11 g (3 qian)	Whole or sliced pieces; widely available at Chinese herb shops
Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi)	~11 g (3 qian)	Dried; available at Chinese herb shops and some Asian specialty stores
Red dates	6 pieces	No need to remove the pits for this soup, though you can
Frozen quail	2 birds	Defrost, clean, and blanch; French quail (available in large supermarkets) works well

Method

1. Defrost the quail completely. Clean, then blanch briefly in boiling water and rinse.
2. Rinse the astragalus, tiger milk mushroom, and red dates.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot. Add 6 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil, skim any foam, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
5. Cook for about 1.5 hours until reduced to approximately 3 bowls of flavorful broth.
6. Serve the soup and eat the quail and other solid ingredients.

Bro Niu’s tips

• The French quail shown in the photo is available at large frozen food stores and supermarkets. If quail is unavailable, use lean pork instead — the effect is similar.
• This soup is mild in flavor with no strong herbal taste, which makes it much easier to get children to drink compared to many medicinal soups.
• Any constitutional type can drink this — it is not heating, cooling, or strongly tonic. It is one of the most versatile and safe soups in Bro Niu’s repertoire.
• For children with G6PD deficiency (favism): tiger milk mushroom is safe; please refer to the G6PD article for the full list of prohibited herbs.
• If a child has a stuffy nose or mild cold at the same time, do not serve this soup until those symptoms resolve. First try a simple soup of carrot slices and red dates to help with prolonged cough.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (小仪): If I replace quail with lean pork, does this soup still work? Is it warming or is it a tonic? Bro Niu: Using lean pork instead of quail is fine. The tiger milk mushroom soup is mild and balanced — suitable for any constitution. Do not drink it when you have a cold or fever. For nasal congestion and sensitivity, try astragalus, wind-protection root (fang feng), white atractylodes (bai zhu), and magnolia flower bud (xin yi hua) as a separate remedy.

• Q (gigi): My 3-year-old has been ill repeatedly since starting kindergarten, with a persistent runny nose even when his cold seems better. He sweats heavily on his head when sleeping. Which recipe would help? Bro Niu: It is normal for children to get sick more when they first start kindergarten — they are building immunity. The most important thing is teaching them to wash their hands frequently. For the runny nose, try astragalus, fang feng, bai zhu, and magnolia flower bud (3 qian each), red dates (6 pieces), and floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 3 qian), simmered in 5 bowls of water to 2 bowls. If the child won’t drink the soup, cook their porridge with this broth instead.

• Q (MK ma): Can pregnant women drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women can drink this soup.

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Published July 27, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 5 min read.