Soups
Ginkgo & Job's Tears Sweet Soup
Traditionally used to moisten the lungs and drain damp during chickenpox
Why people make this soup
Job’s tears comes in several kinds — including a wild-water variety that carries a particularly wholesome reputation. It is a humble grain that traditional kitchens have long prized, rich in starch, protein, vitamins and amino acids, and traditionally used to support the spleen-stomach, moisten the lungs and drain dampness. This ginkgo and Job’s tears sweet soup is a tasty, nourishing bowl traditionally given to children during chickenpox, when the skin breaks out in papules and blisters and there may be a low or moderate fever.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits children going through chickenpox with skin eruptions and a low or moderate fever.
- IMPORTANT: ginkgo is mildly toxic — always remove the core; for children, a safe rule of thumb is one nut per year of age (1 nut at age 1, 2 nuts at age 2, and so on), and adults at most 15 nuts per serving.
- Not for infants (use water chestnuts instead — see Q&A).
- A high fever or severe illness warrants a doctor’s visit.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Ginkgo nut (bai guo): Traditionally used to support the lungs; must be de-cored and used in safe amounts.
- Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): Traditionally used to support the spleen-stomach, clear heat from the lungs and drain dampness.
- Fresh tofu skin (fu pi): Soft and nourishing, adding gentle protein to the bowl.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo nuts (bai guo) | 10 | Shelled and de-cored (mildly toxic) |
| Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi) | ~55 g | Soak 1 hour |
| Fresh tofu skin (fu pi) | 1 piece | — |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | to taste | — |
Method
- Shell and de-core the ginkgo nuts; soak the raw Job’s tears in water for 1 hour.
- Simmer the ginkgo, Job’s tears and tofu skin in 5 bowls of water, reducing to 2 bowls.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Eat the soup with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Ginkgo is mildly toxic and must always be de-cored. The safest way to gauge a serving: one nut per year of a child’s age (1 nut at age 1, 2 at age 2, and so on); adults should eat at most 15 nuts per serving.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (EE): My child is only seven months old — can they drink this? Should I leave out the rock sugar? Bro Niu: Ginkgo is mildly toxic and not suitable for infants — swap in 4–5 water chestnuts instead. For children under 2, it’s best to add no seasoning at all, especially salt; getting them used to plain flavours benefits their growth, since foods carry their own taste and a baby’s palate is still developing.
- Q (好好): Do pearl barley (yang yi mi) and raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi) have different effects? Can I use pearl barley for this sweet soup, since I prefer it? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use pearl barley instead — I sometimes use it in sweet soups too.
- Q (苦恼的妈妈): Each summer I dread enterovirus (EV71). What soup can I give my child as a preventive base? Bro Niu: Ginger, garlic, amaranth and purslane are all traditionally used to help guard against enteroviruses. Use minced garlic and ginger to stir-fry vegetables daily, or add a few garlic cloves when making soup. Most important, teach children to always wash their hands before eating and carry hand sanitiser. You can also simmer yam, hyacinth bean, poria, Job’s tears and lotus seed with lean pork to support the spleen and drain dampness.
Published June 23, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
