Soups
Cordyceps Spore Winter Melon Chicken Breast Soup
Traditionally used to cool summer heat and support the body's defences
Why people make this soup
When the weather turns hot, Bro Niu likes to reach for seasonal melons to make a cooling soup — but a good summer soup should also be nourishing, to help keep you strong against the bugs going around. This one pairs plump cordyceps spore heads with winter melon and corn for a soup that is light and refreshing yet building. The cordyceps spore heads are richer and more aromatic than the more familiar cordyceps flower, and are traditionally regarded as supporting the body’s defences.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A nourishing yet light summer soup for the whole family, young and old.
- A good general-wellness soup for hot weather; enjoy in moderation as part of a varied diet.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps spore heads (chong cao bao zi tou): Traditionally regarded as nourishing the lung and kidney and supporting the body’s defences.
- Winter melon (dong gua): Traditionally used to clear summer heat, drain water and dispel dampness.
- Corn (su mi): Traditionally used to clear heat and gently drain dampness.
- Chicken breast (ji xiong rou): Nourishing and rich in protein, yet not too greasy.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps spore heads (chong cao bao zi tou) | 5 qian (~19 g) | Rinse briefly |
| Winter melon (dong gua) | 1 catty (~600 g) | Skin on, deseeded, cut into chunks |
| Corn (su mi) | 2 ears | Husked, cut into pieces |
| Chicken breast (ji xiong rou) | 1 piece | Cut up and blanched |
Method
- Rinse the cordyceps spore heads briefly. Husk the corn and cut into pieces. Wash the winter melon (skin on), deseed and cut into chunks. Cut up the chicken breast and blanch it.
- Place everything into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to 4–5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is savoury and suits young and old. It is traditionally associated with nourishing the lung and kidney, supporting the liver, and slowing the signs of ageing.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ckl): Can dong chong cao (cordyceps) be steeped in hot water to drink? Thank you! Bro Niu: Because cordyceps is expensive it is often double-steamed, but it works just as well in soup. Best of all, drink the soup and eat the cordyceps too — that’s the most beneficial.
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Q (Bei’er): Hello Bro Niu. My son works outdoors and sweats a lot, but his spleen and stomach are weak, his stools are loose, and he often gets stomach pain and has to use the toilet near dawn. Any soup you’d suggest? Bro Niu: You can use astragalus (bei qi), codonopsis (dang shen), white atractylodes (bai zhu) and poria (fu ling) at 3 qian each, hyacinth bean (bian dou) 1 liang, floating wheat (fu xiao mai) 5 qian, and one dried tangerine peel (chen pi), in a lean pork soup for your son, 3–4 batches a week — traditionally used to help with loose stools and heavy sweating.
Published June 8, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
