Soups
Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry, Carrot and Chicken Liver Soup
traditionally supports liver nourishment and eye health
Why people make this soup
If you spend your days staring at a computer screen, work late into the night, or simply feel that your eyes tire more quickly than they used to, this soup is the kind of thing Bro Niu reaches for. Fresh dendrobium — once so scarce it could only be gathered from cliffsides — is now cultivated widely and is wonderfully accessible. Combined with goji berries, carrot, and chicken liver, it creates a broth that is light yet deeply nourishing, traditionally prized for its association with supporting the liver and keeping the eyes bright.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and children; the whole family can enjoy it.
- People who work long hours at screens, smoke or drink, or feel persistent eye dryness and fatigue.
- Choose chicken livers that are a healthy reddish-brown colour. Pale yellow livers, while fattier and sometimes considered more flavourful, have a higher fat content and are less ideal from a health standpoint.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh dendrobium (xian shi hu): In traditional Chinese dietary therapy, fresh dendrobium orchid stem is associated with nourishing the five organ systems, replenishing yin (cooling, moistening energy), settling the stomach, and supporting vision clarity.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): A beloved tonic berry in Chinese food culture, goji berries are traditionally associated with liver and kidney support, and with keeping the eyes bright and less prone to fatigue.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Rich in beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), carrot is valued both in Western nutrition and traditional Chinese food therapy for supporting eye health.
- Chicken liver (ji gan): In traditional food therapy, liver is thought to nourish liver blood — the idea being that “like nourishes like.” Chicken liver is also a practical source of iron and vitamin A.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): A small amount of ginger gently warms the digestion and helps balance the cooler nature of the other ingredients.
Ingredients (2–3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh dendrobium stem | ~19 g (5 qian) | Rinse and cut into sections; available at larger Chinese herbalists |
| Goji berries | ~11 g (3 qian) | Soak briefly to rinse |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peeled and chunked |
| Chicken livers | 4 lobes | Blanch first to remove impurities |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Water | 6 bowls (~1.4 L) |
Method
- Rinse the fresh dendrobium stem and cut into short sections about 3 cm long.
- Soak and rinse the goji berries.
- Peel the carrot and cut into large chunks.
- Rinse the chicken livers thoroughly. Blanch them briefly in boiling water, drain, and set aside.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
- Serve — eat the solids along with the soup for full benefit.
Bro Niu’s tips
This is a gently flavoured, delicious soup that suits young and old alike. When buying chicken livers, look for a firm, reddish-brown colour — that is the sign of a healthy liver. Fresh dendrobium is stocked by larger Chinese herbal shops and is now quite reasonably priced. If you cannot find fresh dendrobium, you can substitute 3 qian (~11 g) of dried dendrobium. If liver is not to your taste, swap it out for one corn cob — it still does your eyes a world of good.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Bobby): Can I use dried dendrobium instead? And what can I replace the chicken liver with since I never eat offal? Bro Niu: Yes, use about 3 qian of dried dendrobium as a substitute. For the liver, leave it out and add a corn cob instead — it is also beneficial for the eyes.
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Q (YEUNG YEUNG): Can I just use fresh dendrobium to make a simple tea? What goes with it, and how long will it keep in the fridge? Bro Niu: Yes — combine 5 qian of fresh dendrobium with 2 qian each of goji berries and American ginseng slices. Boil the dendrobium and goji in 3.5 bowls of water for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and steep the American ginseng for 5 more minutes before drinking. Stored in the fridge, fresh dendrobium will keep for 2 to 3 months.
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Q (Sandy): I stare at a computer all day at work. How do I protect my eyes? Bro Niu: Eat more blueberries when you can. Brewing a simple tea with goji berries and chrysanthemum flowers is also a lovely daily habit for eye care.
Published December 27, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
