Soups
Cordyceps Flower, Dang Gui and Teal Duck Soup
Traditionally nourishes yin and blood and supports menstrual regularity
Why people make this soup
Teal duck — the small wild-type duck sometimes found at the market — is prized as a nourishing meat that does not feel “heaty,” which makes it a favorite for people who struggle with richer tonics. Bro Niu double-steams it with dang gui, red dates and cordyceps flower into a soup that is traditionally said to nourish yin, support the kidneys, brighten the complexion, and help women with irregular periods.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Women with irregular periods; also traditionally favored by those who feel anemic, run-down or frail. C-section mothers may take it from the second week of recovery.
- If there is an active vaginal or pelvic infection, hold off on tonics and treat the infection first with a doctor. If periods are very irregular, see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): A gentler cousin of cordyceps; traditionally nourishes the lungs and kidneys.
- Dang gui (Chinese angelica): A classic blood tonic; traditionally nourishes blood and supports menstrual regularity.
- Red dates (hong zao): Traditionally nourish blood and harmonize the soup.
- Teal duck (shui ya): Nourishing without being heating, suiting people who cannot take rich tonics.
Ingredients (1 pot, about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps flower | ~5 qian (19 g) | Rinse |
| Dang gui | ~3 qian (11 g) | Rinse |
| Red dates | 8 | Pitted |
| Teal duck | 1 | Cleaned, cut up, blanched (or lean pork / quail) |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices |
Method
- Clean and gut the teal duck, cut it into pieces, and blanch.
- Rinse the cordyceps flower and dang gui; pit the red dates.
- Place all ingredients in a double-boil stewing pot.
- Pour in about 4 bowls of boiling water.
- Steam (water-bath / double-boil) for about 3 hours. Serve the soup and ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup also suits people who feel anemic, low in spirits or frail. For double-steaming, fill the inner stewing pot with boiling water; the water in the outer pot does not have to be boiling — cold is fine.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (淇淇): Is this soup suitable after a C-section? Bro Niu: A C-section mother can drink this soup from the second week onward.
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Q (Rae): If I can’t find teal duck, what can replace it? Bro Niu: If you can’t find teal duck, lean pork or quail both work.
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Q (浩然妈 / reader): My periods have become very light over the past few months, I sleep poorly, I’m thin and frail, and tonics make me heaty. I want to prepare for a second child — what soup do you suggest? Bro Niu: It is best to see a Chinese-medicine practitioner to rebuild your constitution. As gentle support, simmer motherwort (yi mu cao) with red dates and brown sugar into a millet congee — boil the motherwort first for 20 minutes, take the liquid, then cook the date-and-millet congee; twice a week, stopping during your period.
Published December 4, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
