Soups
Ginkgo Tofu Skin Job's Tears Sweet Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the lungs, brighten skin, and reduce internal heat
Why people make this soup
The combination of ginkgo nuts and tofu skin is one of those pairings that Cantonese grandmothers have been making for generations — and for good reason. Together they create a dessert that is at once smooth, subtly sweet, and deeply satisfying, while also being thought to clear internal dryness and nourish the lungs. Adding raw job’s tears (also known as Chinese barley or coix seed) takes this classic in a more skin-focused direction: job’s tears are one of the most widely used ingredients in East Asian beauty food therapy, traditionally associated with improving skin texture, reducing pigmentation, and helping to slow visible skin ageing. Bro Niu notes that this is a dessert that does double duty — pleasurable to eat and quietly looking after the body at the same time.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and older children looking to support lung health, skin clarity, and general wellbeing.
- Ginkgo nuts: the inner core (green sprout) is mildly toxic and must be removed. Children: 1 nut per year of age maximum. Adults: no more than 15 nuts per serving.
- Pregnant women should not use raw job’s tears — substitute 2 beaten eggs stirred in at the very end of cooking instead; the eggs add nourishment without the concerns associated with job’s tears in pregnancy.
- People with a cold or sluggish digestive constitution should enjoy in moderation.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Ginkgo nuts (bai guo): Traditionally associated with astringing the lungs, reducing excess secretions, and clearing dryness. Also associated with beauty benefits — externally applied as a paste for acne and blemishes.
- Dried tofu skin (fu zhu): A concentrated soy product. Traditionally paired with ginkgo because the two flavours are said to “fit together” naturally. After cooking it becomes silky and soft, and it is associated with nourishing and moistening the lungs.
- Raw job’s tears (sheng yi mi): One of the key herbs of Chinese beauty food therapy. Traditionally associated with clearing dampness and heat from the body, nourishing the skin, reducing pigmentation, delaying skin ageing, and brightening complexion. Raw (unprocessed) job’s tears are used here specifically for their stronger cooling and skin-clearing effect.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo nuts (bai guo) | 20 | Shelled, skinned, core removed |
| Dried tofu skin (fu zhu) | 1 sheet | Snipped into pieces; rinse briefly |
| Raw job’s tears (sheng yi mi) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soaked in water 30 min before cooking |
| Rock sugar | to taste | Add at the end |
| Water | 7–8 bowls (~1.75–2 L) |
Method
- Shell the ginkgo nuts, remove the outer skin, and carefully remove the inner green core — this step is essential as the core contains a mildly toxic compound.
- Snip the dried tofu skin into smaller pieces and rinse briefly.
- Soak the job’s tears in cold water for at least 30 minutes; drain.
- Place all ingredients except the rock sugar into a pot with 7–8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, until all ingredients are soft and the liquid has reduced to about 4–5 bowls.
- Add rock sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Serve warm.
Bro Niu’s tips
This sweet soup clears internal heat and dryness, leaving the body feeling comfortable and refreshed. If you are pregnant and cannot use job’s tears, beat 2 eggs and stir them in just before serving — this adds nourishment without any of the concerns. Ginkgo has a lovely side use: mash a raw ginkgo nut (the fresh flesh, not dried) and apply the paste to pimples or acne spots, leave for 15 minutes, then rinse. It is a simple traditional remedy that many people find helpful.
Published July 6, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
