Kudzu Root, Adzuki Bean and Poria Soup

Why people make this soup

In winter, the temptation to eat warming, spicy, or rich foods can lead to a build-up of internal heat — the kind that manifests as neck and shoulder stiffness, a sense of heat in the body, tiredness, or mild irritability. In Chinese food therapy, kudzu root (fen ge) is one of the go-to ingredients for this situation. It clears heat from the stomach and muscles, and is particularly associated with relieving that heavy, tight feeling in the neck and shoulders that comes from too much heat or stress. Paired with adzuki beans and poria — both classic spleen-supporting, dampness-draining ingredients — plus dried tangerine peel and honey dates for balance, this soup is easy to make and genuinely pleasant to eat on a winter evening. It is also suitable for people with high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, and cardiovascular concerns.