Almond Juice, Ginkgo Nut, Walnut and Euryale Soup

Why people make this soup

Asthma in children is one of the most distressing things for a parent to deal with — the wheezing, the interrupted sleep, the repeated doctor visits. In traditional Chinese food therapy, prolonged respiratory weakness in children is associated with a pattern of deficiency affecting the lungs, spleen, and kidneys together. When a child is in a calm period — no active wheezing, no fever, no acute illness — this is the right time to gently build up their constitution with nourishing food.

Nourilo recommends this soup specifically for the remission phase of childhood asthma. It brings together ingredients that traditional food therapy considers beneficial for the respiratory system and the body’s foundational energy: ginkgo nuts to help ease wheezing, walnuts to warm and support the kidneys, euryale seeds to strengthen the spleen, and almond powder to moisten the lungs. It is a pleasant, mildly sweet soup that the whole family can drink.

Method

1. Remove the green embryo (core) from each ginkgo nut — this is essential for safety.
2. Soak and rinse the euryale seeds and dried tangerine peel.
3. Mix the almond powder with 1 tablespoon of water to form a smooth slurry; set aside.
4. Place all ingredients except the almond slurry into a pot with 2.1 L of water.
5. Cook on a medium simmer for 1 hour.
6. Stir in the almond slurry and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy both the soup and the ingredients. Can be sweetened with rock sugar or served as a savoury soup with lean pork or quail.

Nourilo’s Tips

The whole family can drink this soup. The ginkgo nut core contains a mildly toxic substance and must be removed without fail. For children, a helpful guideline is 1 nut per year of age. This soup works both as a sweet dessert soup with rock sugar, or as a savoury soup — just add lean pork or quail (zhe gu) for better effect. During active illness or an asthma attack, do not serve this soup; wait until the child is well and in a calm period.