Soups
Chicken Gizzard Lining, Hawthorn and Malt Soup
Traditionally supports appetite and eases that overfull feeling
Why people make this soup
After Lunar New Year, Bro Niu says, we have all eaten too many rich, oily, sweet treats — sticky cakes, deep-fried dumplings, lavish dishes — and end up feeling heavy and overfull. This soup is a gentle, traditional way to support the spleen-and-stomach after the feasting and help bring the appetite back.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits the whole family after rich or heavy meals; traditionally helpful for that bloated, no-appetite feeling, including children who have overeaten.
- Not for pregnant women — hawthorn is traditionally avoided in pregnancy. Nursing mothers should leave out the malt, which is traditionally linked to reducing milk supply.
- If you have a cold/weak stomach with watery saliva and a bland taste in the mouth, you may add dried ginger (gan jiang) ~11 g.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chicken gizzard lining (ji nei jin): A classic food-therapy item traditionally used to ease food stagnation and support digestion.
- Hawthorn (shan zha): Traditionally associated with breaking down meat and oil stagnation and supporting digestion of fatty foods.
- Malt / sprouted barley (mai ya): Traditionally used to help move starchy, grain-based stagnation.
- Red dates (hong zao): Soften the soup and add gentle sweetness; protect the stomach.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken gizzard lining (ji nei jin) | ~11 g | |
| Hawthorn (shan zha) | ~38 g | |
| Malt (mai ya) | ~4 g | |
| Red dates | 6–8 | |
| Brown sugar | to taste | Added at the end |
Method
- Rinse all the ingredients.
- Add to about 6 bowls of water and cook for around 1 hour, reducing to 3–4 bowls.
- Stir in brown sugar until dissolved, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
The whole family can drink this. If someone has a cold, weak stomach with watery saliva and a bland mouth, add dried ginger (~11 g) to the pot. Hawthorn is acidic, so use a clay or ceramic (Corningware) pot rather than metal.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): Can pregnant women drink this soup? Bro Niu: No — pregnant women should not drink it, because hawthorn is thought to stimulate the uterus. And if you are nursing after birth, leave out the malt, as it is associated with reducing milk supply.
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Q (tingyan61): My child really dislikes sour things — can I leave out the hawthorn or swap it? Bro Niu: If you would rather not use hawthorn, substitute radish seed (lai fu zi) ~11 g, which also helps with stagnation and is sold at Chinese herb shops. Or simply use one whole white radish in the soup instead.
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Q (jojo): Does “hong tang” mean yellow sugar or slab sugar? Bro Niu: “Hong tang” (brown sugar) here generally means slab sugar (pian tang).
Published January 26, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
