Four Red Soup (Si Hong Tang)

Why people make this soup

Sometimes the best remedies are the simplest ones. This soup is built from four everyday seeds — all of them red, all of them available in almost any Asian grocery, and many Western health food stores too. It came up when readers asked Bro Niu about food support after a young woman’s first period, and it turned out to be equally useful for a much wider group: anyone who has lost blood through surgery, or whose blood cell counts have taken a hit from cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Because none of the four ingredients are strong medicinal herbs, the soup is considered mild enough for most patients to use, even those on medication. The taste is naturally sweet and pleasant — easy to eat even when appetite is poor.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for: those recovering from blood loss after surgery; those undergoing or recovering from chemotherapy or radiotherapy; women after menstruation; anyone who is pale, easily tired, or blood-deficient
• Cancer patients: do not add sugar; use southern dates (nan zao) instead of red dates if prone to internal heat or mouth sores
• Those with gout or high uric acid: swap adzuki beans (hong dou) for chi xiao dou (a slightly different small red bean that is lower in purines and actually helps suppress uric acid)
• Peanut allergy: omit peanuts and use 10 dried longan instead
• Eat the solids, not just the broth — the nourishing effect is much better when you eat the beans and peanuts

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Adzuki beans (hong dou): Traditionally associated with supporting blood and clearing dampness; the earthy base of this soup
• Red-skinned peanuts (hong yi hua sheng): The red papery skin of the peanut is specifically valued in Chinese food therapy for supporting platelet production and helping with low platelet counts; the nut itself nourishes blood and lubricates the lungs
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): A well-researched berry rich in antioxidants, polysaccharides, and carotenoids; traditionally used to nourish liver and kidney, support vision, and gently replenish blood and essence
• Red dates (hong zao): Support spleen qi, build blood, and improve the taste of the broth; substitute southern dates (nan zao) if you run hot

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Adzuki beans	~38 g	Soak 1 hour, discard soaking water
Red-skinned peanuts	~75 g	Soak 1 hour, discard soaking water
Goji berries	~11 g	Rinse gently
Red dates	6–8 pieces	Pit and slice
Water	8 bowls (~1.6 L)

Method

1. Soak adzuki beans and red-skinned peanuts separately in water for about 1 hour. Discard the soaking water.
2. Rinse the goji berries. Pit the red dates and slice them.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low heat for about 1.5 hours until fragrant and soft.
5. Serve warm — drink the broth and eat the beans, peanuts, and dates together for the full benefit.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is naturally sweet and delicious, but it is most effective when you eat the solid ingredients too, not just drink the liquid. If you cannot find red-skinned peanuts, ordinary peanuts work fine. Red-skinned peanuts are especially noted for their benefit with low platelet counts and can usually be found in larger Chinese grocery or herbal shops. If the soup feels too warming or causes minor heat symptoms, swap the red dates for southern dates (nan zao). Cancer patients should skip any added sugar entirely.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Wai, whose husband has anaemia, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis): Can my husband drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes — just swap the adzuki beans (hong dou) for chi xiao dou. Chi xiao dou is lower in purines, helps suppress uric acid, and still has a blood-nourishing effect. He can take it regularly.

• Q (Ling): If I drink Four Red Soup regularly, could my blood cells become too many? Bro Niu: Since this soup is made almost entirely from everyday foods rather than strong medicinal herbs, there is no risk if you drink it in reasonable amounts. Once your complexion improves and your blood count returns to normal, you can take a break.

• Q (Rain, whose mother had gastric cancer surgery and is starting chemo): Can she drink this soup during chemotherapy? She also takes aspirin long-term. Bro Niu: She can drink this soup while taking aspirin — the ingredients do not interfere. During chemotherapy, aim for about 3–4 servings per week, ideally eating some of the solids too, since these are essentially foods rather than medicine.

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Published January 8, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.