Prince Ginseng, Snow Ear Fungus, Walnut, Lily Bulb and Fig Soup

Why people make this soup

When children fall ill with COVID, parents worry — and rightly so. Some children recover smoothly, while others are left with lingering fatigue, poor appetite, a chronic cough, headaches, poor concentration, or mood changes. Getting a child to drink medicine is often a battle; getting them to drink a pleasant-tasting soup is far easier. This is where food therapy shines for parents. The key ingredient here is prince ginseng (tai zi shen, also known as “children’s ginseng”), a gentle qi tonic that is not the same plant family as true ginseng and is considered much safer for children. It won’t cause the heating or stimulating effects associated with Korean or Panax ginseng. Paired with the familiar nourishing ingredients of snow ear, walnuts, lily bulb, and figs, this soup is mild, lightly sweet, and suitable for the whole family — while being especially well targeted at children recovering from respiratory illness.