Soups
Cicada Flower, Goji Berry & Pork Liver Soup
traditionally used to nourish liver blood and support eye health
Why people make this soup
In Chinese food-therapy tradition, the eyes are nourished by the liver, and a soup that gently supports liver blood is considered one of the most time-honored ways to care for vision. Bro Niu has long recommended this three-herb combination for people who notice the tell-tale drifting specks known as “floaters” — especially those connected with the early stages of age-related eye changes. The star ingredient, jin chan hua (cicada flower fungus), looks remarkably like a tiny cicada and has been prized in classical herbalism for treating eye disorders and liver-related fatigue. Paired with goji berries and the lesser-known rui ren rou — regarded in Chinese medicine as an eye-specialist herb — and grounded by nourishing pork liver, this soup makes a comforting, earthy broth.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults with tired eyes, mild floaters, early-stage vision blur, or a tendency toward liver-blood deficiency (often seen as dry eyes, night-vision difficulty, and general fatigue).
- Goji berries and liver are cholesterol-containing foods; those with high cholesterol may substitute the pork liver with carrot and lean pork, as Bro Niu himself suggests.
- Those with current colds, fever, or active infections should wait until they recover before taking nourishing soups of this kind.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cicada flower fungus (jin chan hua): A parasitic fungus grown on cicada larvae, structurally related to cordyceps. Traditionally considered to excel at supporting eye health, calming liver-related night restlessness, and gently tonifying without causing heat.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): One of the most well-known tonic berries in Chinese herbalism, traditionally associated with nourishing the liver and kidney systems and brightening vision.
- Rose kernel / hedge rose seed (rui ren rou): Classified as an eye-specialist herb in classical texts, traditionally used to calm wind-heat in the eyes and support clear vision.
- Pork liver (zhu gan): The classical food-therapy principle “like nourishes like” places pork liver as a key food for replenishing liver blood, which in turn supports the eyes.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Warms the stomach, helps moderate the cool nature of the herbs, and prevents any digestive heaviness.
Ingredients (2–3 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cicada flower fungus (jin chan hua) | ~12 g (4 qian) | Soak in cold water for 30 min before use to remove dirt |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | ~15 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Rui ren rou (rose kernel) | ~9 g (3 qian) | Available at Chinese herb shops |
| Pork liver | ~150 g (4 liang) | Slice thinly; blanch in boiling water before adding |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Water | ~6 bowls (~1.2 L) |
Method
- Soak the cicada flower fungus in cold water for about 30 minutes; rinse gently to remove any earth.
- Rinse the goji berries and rui ren rou briefly under clean water.
- Blanch the pork liver slices briefly in boiling water; drain and set aside.
- Place all ingredients — cicada flower fungus, goji berries, rui ren rou, pork liver, and ginger — into a pot with about 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 1.5 hours.
- Serve the soup and eat the ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Choose cicada flower fungus that is dry, firm, and intact — that is the sign of good quality. After soaking for 30 minutes, rinse away any remaining dirt before cooking. If you prefer to avoid pork liver due to cholesterol concerns, Bro Niu suggests swapping in one carrot and some lean pork — the soup will still be very nourishing. For a single-person serving, cook the full batch and store the remainder in a sealed container in the refrigerator; reheat and strain before drinking the next day.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): Can this soup help with dry eyes? Bro Niu: The jin chan hua soup supports any kind of eye discomfort — it is a good one to have regularly, around twice a week. If you are concerned about cholesterol from the pork liver, you can replace it with carrot and lean pork.
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Q (Anita): Can this soup be made without meat? Bro Niu: Certainly — just substitute one carrot and the soup will be very good.
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Q (cat): What is the serving size if only one person is drinking this? Bro Niu: This quantity, once cooked, is enough for two days for one person. Strain out the solids, store in the fridge, and reheat each time before drinking.
Published March 6, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
