Chinese Yam, Codonopsis, Chestnut and Pork Bone Soup

Why people make this soup

Chestnuts have a special place in Chinese cuisine and food therapy — sweet, warming, fragrant, and deeply satisfying whether stir-fried, braised, or simmered into soup. Bro Niu once bought a small bag of chestnuts and noticed that two of them had already begun to sprout. He planted them in a window box out of curiosity, and they grew into tiny seedlings — a reminder of just how much vitality these little nuts contain. In traditional food therapy, chestnuts are associated with warming and nourishing the spleen and stomach, supporting kidney function, and maintaining strong bones and healthy teeth. Their riboflavin content is particularly noted for supporting oral health and helping with recurrent mouth ulcers. Combined with Chinese yam and codonopsis root — two classic gentle tonics for the spleen and stomach — this becomes a soup that sustains energy, supports digestion, and is suitable for the whole family as a regular household brew.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for men, women, young and old as a regular household tonic soup
• Particularly helpful for those prone to fatigue, weak knees, lower back discomfort, poor appetite, or concern about osteoporosis
• Those with diabetes should limit the chestnut portion, as chestnuts are high in starch
• Not suitable during an active cold or infection

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Chinese yam (huai shan): A classic spleen-stomach tonic in Chinese food therapy; gently supports digestion, absorption, and energy; also nourishes the kidneys and lungs; mild and suitable for all body types
• Codonopsis root (dang shen): A gentle qi tonic, often used as a more affordable and milder alternative to ginseng; traditionally supports energy, appetite and immune resilience
• Chestnuts (li zi): Warming and sweet; rich in vitamins B2 (riboflavin), C and various minerals; traditionally associated with strengthening the spleen-stomach, nourishing kidney function, fortifying tendons and bones, and reducing muscle and joint aches; also associated with dental and bone health
• Red dates (hong zao): Nourish blood and support the spleen; add natural sweetness and balance
• Pork bones (zhu gu): Provide a rich, nourishing broth; a traditional source of minerals and collagen in Chinese cooking

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Chinese yam (dried slices)	38 g	Soak and rinse
Codonopsis root	19 g	Soak and rinse
Chestnuts	150 g	Blanch and peel
Red dates	6	Pitted
Pork bones	450 g	Blanch to remove impurities
Water	8 bowls (~1.6 L)

Method

1. Soak and rinse the dried Chinese yam and codonopsis root.
2. Score each chestnut, drop into boiling water for 2–3 minutes, then peel off the shell and inner skin while warm.
3. Pit the red dates.
4. Blanch the pork bones in boiling water for 2–3 minutes; drain and rinse.
5. Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until about 4 bowls of liquid remain.
7. Serve the soup and eat the chestnuts, Chinese yam and red dates alongside.

Bro Niu’s tips

This is a naturally sweet, aromatic soup with a mild and balanced character — a good everyday household tonic suitable for the whole family. Diabetics should go easy on the chestnuts as they are starchy; reducing the amount or omitting them is fine. For those who eat no meat, cashew nuts can replace the pork bones to provide a similar richness and some nourishment. Skip this soup if anyone has an active cold — wait until recovered.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Amy, reader): I am 3 months pregnant. Can I drink this soup? Is codonopsis root too warming? Bro Niu: During pregnancy it is generally better to favour cooling and moistening foods. Codonopsis is warming; it is fine to use occasionally — keep it to within 3 qian (9 g) to be safe.

• Q (雅常, reader): I am vegetarian. If I remove the pork bones, can I still make this soup? Bro Niu: Yes. For vegetarians, replace the pork bones with a handful of cashew nuts — they provide richness and nourishment.

• Q (Yan, reader): If someone cannot tolerate tonics (xu bu shou bu), can they still drink American ginseng (hua qi shen)? Bro Niu: Yes, American ginseng is gentle and cooling in nature — it is well suited to those who find themselves unable to tolerate warming tonics.

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Published June 18, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.