Fresh Yam, Chestnut and Black Bean Pork Shin Soup

Why people make this soup

Heel pain is something many people quietly live with — it often comes on gradually, sometimes without any obvious injury, and tends to get worse over time. In Chinese medicine, chronic heel and foot pain is often linked to the concept of liver and kidney deficiency, particularly in middle-aged and older adults. The kidneys in this framework are associated with the health of bones and connective tissue, so nourishing the kidney is seen as an important part of supporting the body’s structural resilience. This soup brings together three key food-therapy ingredients — fresh yam, chestnuts and black soybeans — all traditionally regarded as kidney-tonifying foods, to make a warm, flavoursome soup that the whole household can enjoy.