Daylily, Goji Berry, Spinach and Pork Liver Soup

Why people make this soup

Daylily buds — also called huang hua cai (yellow flower vegetable), wang you cao (forget-worries herb) or xuan cai — have been eaten in Chinese cuisine for centuries and are enjoyed as much for their mild, savoury flavour as for their traditional health associations. In Chinese food therapy, daylily is considered to calm the mind, support brain function and help reduce the emotional heat that comes from a busy, overstimulated liver. This is particularly relevant for people who tend to stay up late, work under pressure, are prone to mood swings, or are going through the hormonal fluctuations of menopause — all conditions where traditional medicine points to the liver as a key organ to support.

Combined with goji berries (traditionally nourishing to the liver and kidneys), spinach (iron-rich, blood-supporting) and pork liver (a classical blood-building ingredient in Chinese cooking), this soup is light, clear-tasting and broadly nourishing — suitable for children who tend to be irritable, and for adults managing stress or anaemia.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults and children; particularly helpful for those who feel emotionally volatile, have trouble sleeping due to a restless or overactive mind, or show early signs of anaemia.
• Menopausal women experiencing flushed faces, irritability and dry throat may find this soup helpful as a regular addition to their diet.
• Pork liver is high in vitamin A — enjoy in moderation (not daily in large quantities), particularly during pregnancy.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Daylily bud (jin zhen / huang hua cai): Contains lecithin; traditionally associated with calming the mind, improving memory and attention, reducing liver-fire and supporting emotional balance.
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Classically used to nourish liver and kidney yin, support vision and improve blood quality.
• Spinach (bo cai): High in iron and folate; traditionally regarded as nourishing to the liver and supporting healthy blood.
• Pork liver (zhu gan): A traditional blood tonic; provides iron, vitamin A and B vitamins in a highly bioavailable form.

Ingredients (3–4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried daylily buds	12 g (4 qian)	Soaked, rinsed and tied into knots
Goji berries	9 g (3 qian)	Soaked and rinsed
Spinach	~300 g	Roots removed and washed
Pork liver	~225 g (6 liang)	Sliced and briefly blanched
Water	6 bowls (~1.5 L)

Method

1. Soak the dried daylily buds until soft; rinse well and tie each bud into a loose knot (this helps with texture and prevents them from dispersing in the soup). Soak and rinse the goji berries.
2. Remove the roots from the spinach and wash thoroughly. Slice the pork liver, then briefly blanch the slices in boiling water to remove impurities; drain.
3. Bring 6 bowls of water to a boil. Add the daylily buds and goji berries and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the spinach and blanched pork liver; continue to cook for a further 10 minutes.
5. Serve the soup and solid ingredients together.

Bro Niu’s tips

This is a soup the whole family can enjoy — its mellow, slightly savoury taste works well for both children and adults. For children who tend to have a hot, irritable temperament and throw frequent tantrums, regular servings of this soup are traditionally thought to be helpful. Adding a very small amount of cooking oil when serving can help with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamin A from the pork liver. The soup tastes light and clean — not at all heavy or liver-scented when the liver is properly blanched beforehand.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (cherrylau): My eyes suddenly became very itchy and turned red — I think it is from staying up late, eating too much spicy food and not resting enough. Is this soup suitable for me? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink this soup. Additionally, try: xia ku cao 5 qian, mulberry leaf and chrysanthemum 3 qian each, with a little rock sugar, simmered in 4 bowls of water to 2 bowls. Take 2–3 doses to help clear liver heat and support clear vision.

• Q (Yan): My face has been dull and yellowish for a few years and I have more dark spots. I do not drink enough water. What soups or teas can help? Bro Niu: You really do need to drink more water. You can brew red dates (sliced), goji berries and American ginseng slices as a tea and sip throughout the day. For soups, try a regular pot of beetroot, tomato and carrot with lean pork — this supports complexion and helps reduce discolouration. If the yellowish tone is persistent, it is worth getting a medical check to rule out liver or jaundice issues.

• Q (May): I have diabetic kidney disease and anaemia. What should I eat? Bro Niu: You can regularly make a soup using fresh Chinese yam, goji berries, gordon euryale seeds and corn with lean pork. Try to eat both the broth and the solid ingredients.

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Published September 23, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.