Soups
Cordyceps-Flower Yam Goji Fox-Nut Teal-Duck Soup (chong cao hua huai qi qian shi shui ya tang)
Traditionally nourishes qi and blood and the five organs
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu loves teal duck (a wild river duck) for soup because, traditionally, it nourishes yin and the kidney while being neither too cooling nor too heating — gentle enough for those who feel “too weak to take strong tonics.” This soup is balanced and mild, the kind he reaches for when a child is frail, often coughing or run down, or when an adult feels dizzy, weak-backed or troubled by frequent night urination.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits frail, easily-tired children, and adults recovering from illness; mild enough for those who can’t tolerate strong tonics, including some who avoid chicken-based tonics.
- If there is a cough with no fever, you can still drink it; add south-and-north apricot kernels (nan bei xing). During an active fever, hold off.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): traditionally a gentle tonic for qi and the lungs.
- Chinese yam (huai shan) and fox-nut (qian shi): traditionally strengthen the spleen and support the kidney.
- Goji (gou qi zi): traditionally nourishes and brightens.
- Teal duck (shui ya): traditionally nourishes yin and the kidney without being heating.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps flower | 5 qian (~19 g) | |
| Chinese yam (huai shan) | 1 liang (~38 g) | |
| Goji berries | 4 qian (~15 g) | |
| Fox-nut (qian shi) | 1 liang (~38 g) | |
| Ginger | 2 slices | |
| Frozen teal duck | 1 whole | trim off fat |
| Dried scallop | 3 pieces |
Method
- Clean and cut up the duck, then blanch in boiling water; rinse and soak the other ingredients.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer about 3 hours down to about 4 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is good for frail children who tire and cough easily, and for those with a weak spleen and stomach. It’s also a suitable choice for cancer patients who shouldn’t use chicken-based tonics.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Brenda Wong): What is teal duck? I live in Canada — can I use chilled duck instead? Bro Niu: Teal duck is a wild flying duck. You can use chilled duck, but trim off the fat before cooking.
- Q (Fat): I have a cough with lots of phlegm right now — can I drink this duck soup? Bro Niu: If there’s no fever, yes — add 1 liang of south-and-north apricot kernels (nan bei xing).
- Q (reader): Can pregnant women drink teal-duck soup? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women can drink teal-duck soup — no problem.
Published July 5, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
