Cordyceps Flower, Chinese Yam, Goji Berry and Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

Quail has been nicknamed “animal ginseng” in Cantonese folk cooking — a small bird with an outsized reputation for nourishing the young, the elderly, and those recovering from illness. Paired with cordyceps flower (the cultivated, food-safe variety distinct from wild Tibetan cordyceps), Chinese yam, and goji berries, this is one of those soups that Nourilo describes as gentle enough for the whole family — children and grandparents included. He specifically recommends it for anyone who seems to pick up every cold that comes around, or who coughs for weeks after a minor illness.