Five-Finger Fig Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Five-finger fig (wu zhi mao tao) is a wild plant from southern China whose root is used in traditional Cantonese soups. Its leaves typically have four or five lobes, its fruit resembles a small peach, and the root carries a faint, pleasant coconut fragrance that infuses any soup it is added to. In regions where astragalus (huang qi) is not easily available, five-finger fig is used as a gentler substitute — which is why it is sometimes nicknamed “southern astragalus” or “earth astragalus” (nan qi / tu huang qi). Nourilo first encountered it growing in a fruit orchard during a trip to mainland China, alongside various mountain herbs.

This soup is mild, fragrant, and neutral in temperature — suitable for men, women, the elderly, and children alike, particularly when the body feels heavy, energy is low, or digestion is sluggish.

Method

1. Rinse the five-finger fig root thoroughly. Soak in water for about 30 minutes, then discard the soaking water (helps reduce any acidic note and removes excess sulphur if the herb has been dried with it).
2. Blanch the lean pork in boiling water briefly (1–2 minutes); remove and rinse.
3. Pit the red dates.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 2.4 L of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 2 hours, until 1.2 L remain.
5. Season lightly with salt if desired. Serve and eat the soup ingredients along with the broth.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Buy five-finger fig in the whole branch/root form (orange-coloured pieces shaped like small branches) rather than sliced. The whole form is easier to identify and much less likely to be mixed up with toxic lookalike plants like thunder-god vine (lei gong teng), whose roots can become entangled with five-finger fig during growth and may accidentally be included when the root is cut into slices.
• Soak the root in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking, and discard the soaking water.
• This soup can also be made with chicken instead of pork — especially good for those with insufficient qi, shortness of breath on exertion, or postpartum milk insufficiency.
• Five-finger fig can be combined with astragalus (huang qi), Chinese yam (huai shan), or goji berries to further enhance the qi-nourishing effect.
• Minimum simmering time is 2 hours for the root to release its therapeutic compounds.