Soups
Kudzu, Adzuki Bean and Job's-Tears Soup
Traditionally eases neck and shoulder tightness and clears damp
Why people make this soup
When the weather turns cold and damp, Bro Niu says older folks often feel a sore back and stiff limbs, while younger ones glued to a computer with little movement get tight, achy necks and shoulders — both, in his view, tied to too much damp. Kudzu root is traditionally used to ease tight neck and shoulder muscles and is also considered beneficial for those minding blood pressure and blood sugar, so he likes to cook with it in this season, pairing it with adzuki bean and job’s-tears to support the spleen and clear damp.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with stiff, achy necks and shoulders, or that heavy, damp feeling in cold, humid weather; gentle enough for toddlers (see Q&A)
- Those with a cold, weak digestion should go easy on job’s-tears — use cooked job’s-tears and add chen pi or ginger; not for use during pregnancy with job’s-tears (swap in flat beans)
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Kudzu root (fen ge): traditionally used to relax tight neck and shoulder muscles and support the circulation
- Adzuki bean (chi xiao dou): classically associated with supporting fluid balance
- Job’s-tears (yi mi): traditionally used to support the spleen and drain damp
- Chen pi and honey dates (chen pi, mi zao): round out the flavour and ease any cooling tendency
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kudzu root | ~600 g (1 jin) | peeled, cut in chunks |
| Adzuki beans | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Raw and cooked job’s-tears | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Honey dates | 3 | |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | soaked and rinsed |
| Lean pork | ~225 g (6 liang) | sliced, blanched |
Method
- Peel the kudzu root and cut into chunks. Slice the pork and blanch it.
- Soak and rinse the remaining ingredients.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer about 2 hours down to 4 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Kudzu root is rich in coarse fibre, so eating the soup ingredients helps tidy up the gut and is traditionally seen as helpful for skin eczema too.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (May): Can I use date palm (jujube dates) instead of honey dates? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use date palm — just add a few more.
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Q (scy): If my spleen and stomach run cold, can I use only cooked job’s-tears? Bro Niu: With a cold, weak digestion, don’t overuse job’s-tears; cooked job’s-tears is better, and it’s best to add some chen pi or ginger.
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Q (Emily): Can I drink this in mid-pregnancy? Could I leave out the job’s-tears and add tu fu ling instead? Bro Niu: During pregnancy don’t use job’s-tears; the other ingredients are fine. Tu fu ling is cooling, so keep the amount small — about 4–5 qian of the dried herb is enough.
Published February 27, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
