Chinese Ginseng, Astragalus, and Free-Range Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

When the weather turns cold and energy feels low, traditional Chinese food therapy looks to qi-tonifying ingredients to help the body build resilience from within. This soup uses Chinese ginseng alongside astragalus (bei qi) — two of the most widely respected qi-replenishing herbs in the Chinese culinary tradition — paired with nan dates and free-range chicken. The result is a rich, warming broth that has long been used for people who feel run-down, catch colds easily, or have weaker constitutions. Nourilo notes that most tonifying Chinese herbs share the property of supporting the body’s immune response, making this type of soup especially popular during colder months.