Ginkgo & Job's Tears Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

Job’s tears comes in several kinds — including a wild-water variety that carries a particularly wholesome reputation. It is a humble grain that traditional kitchens have long prized, rich in starch, protein, vitamins and amino acids, and traditionally used to support the spleen-stomach, moisten the lungs and drain dampness. This ginkgo and Job’s tears sweet soup is a tasty, nourishing bowl traditionally given to children during chickenpox, when the skin breaks out in papules and blisters and there may be a low or moderate fever.

Method

1. Shell and de-core the ginkgo nuts; soak the raw Job’s tears in water for 1 hour.
2. Simmer the ginkgo, Job’s tears and tofu skin in 1.5 L of water, reducing to 600 ml.
3. Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Eat the soup with the ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

Ginkgo is mildly toxic and must always be de-cored. The safest way to gauge a serving: one nut per year of a child’s age (1 nut at age 1, 2 at age 2, and so on); adults should eat at most 15 nuts per serving.