Kudzu Root and Fish Head Soup

Why people make this soup

Sit at a desk all day, eyes on a screen, with the air conditioning blasting — and stiff, achy neck and shoulders and tight muscles soon follow. Many offices keep the AC running hard, and it doesn’t take much to catch a chill. In the traditional view, kudzu root (fen ge) helps relax tight, sore muscles and “release the exterior” through a light sweat. Paired with a flavourful bighead carp head — tasty and traditionally said to steady the head and nourish the brain — it makes a comforting pot for desk workers.