Soups
Fish Maw, Sea Cucumber and Snake Broth (Cantonese Style)
traditionally associated with warming the stomach, dispelling cold, and nourishing the body
In short: Fish Maw, Sea Cucumber and Snake Broth (Cantonese Style) is a soup that traditionally associated with warming the stomach, dispelling cold, and nourishing the body. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 30 min. Key ingredients: black wood ear fungus, rehydrated sea cucumber, shiitake mushrooms, winter bamboo shoot.
Why people make this broth
When winter arrives, 300 ml of piping-hot snake broth is one of Cantonese cuisine’s most celebrated cold-weather rituals. Snake meat is naturally lean and rich in amino acids and vitamins; traditional food therapy considers it warming in nature, making it particularly valued when the body feels chilled from the inside out. Combined with the collagen richness of fish maw and the tonic properties of sea cucumber, this slow-simmered broth becomes something much more than a warming meal — it is a whole-body nourishing experience. This recipe yields enough hearty broth for a table of twelve, bringing together the best of Cantonese winter nourishment in a single generous pot.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Shiitake mushrooms
Daily shiitake intake was associated with increased ex vivo proliferation of γδ-T and NK-T cells, higher salivary sIgA and lower serum CRP, along with changes in cytokine patterns. The comparison was before versus after intake in two dose groups.Limitation: Parallel 5 g and 10 g dose groups with no placebo or non-mushroom control. Short 4-week study in healthy young adults, with mostly ex vivo immune markers.PubMed 25866155 · 2 more shiitake mushrooms studies - Ginger
Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies - Tangerine peel
The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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