Soups
White Radish, Hawthorn and Dried Duck Gizzard Soup
traditionally used to ease bloating, settle food stagnation, and strengthen digestive function
Why people make this soup
After the Lunar New Year feast — sea cucumber, flower swim bladder, abalone, fatty roast meats, glutinous rice dumplings — the stomach sometimes signals that it has reached its limit. In Cantonese food therapy, this state of uncomfortable fullness is called “food stagnation” (shi zhi): undigested food that sits heavily in the stomach, causing bloating, belching with a sour or rotten smell, and a general feeling of discomfort. Rather than reaching for antacids, Bro Niu suggests this simple four-ingredient soup. White radish moves qi downward to ease bloating; hawthorn berries are one of the most well-known digestive aids in Chinese food therapy; dried aged duck gizzard lends a deeply savoury flavour while supporting the stomach; and tangerine peel ties everything together with its aromatic, qi-moving properties. It is a gentle, old-fashioned kitchen remedy that has been keeping Cantonese stomachs happy for generations.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults and children with post-holiday bloating, belching, acid regurgitation, or mild food stagnation
- Good for children with chronic food accumulation (small appetite, dull complexion, picky eating)
- Pregnant women: omit hawthorn berries entirely; use grain sprouts (gu ya, 20 g) as a substitute
- Those currently taking herbal qi tonics (e.g. ginseng, huang qi) should avoid this soup, as radish and hawthorn may counteract the tonic’s effect
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- White radish (bai luo bo): Cool and pungent when raw, sweet and gentle when cooked. Traditionally used to move qi downward, ease belching and bloating, and clear digestive stagnation. Widely considered one of the most accessible digestive vegetables in Chinese cooking.
- Hawthorn berries (shan zha): Sour and slightly warm. One of the classical herbs specifically used to dissolve meat and fatty food stagnation in traditional Chinese medicine. Also associated with supporting circulation.
- Dried aged duck gizzard (chen ya shen): The cured, dried form of duck gizzard that has been salted and air-dried. Deeply savoury and aromatic, traditionally believed to strengthen the stomach and support digestive enzyme activity.
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Warm, aromatic, and qi-regulating. Eases nausea, harmonises the stomach, and adds fragrance to the soup.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White radish | 600 g (1 jin) | Peeled and sliced |
| Dried hawthorn berries | 12 g (3 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly; OMIT if pregnant, substitute with grain sprouts |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | Rinse; soak briefly to soften |
| Dried aged duck gizzard | 3 pieces | Available at Chinese dried goods stores; soak and rinse |
| Water | 6–7 bowls (~1.5 litres) |
Method
- Peel the white radish and cut into thick slices or chunks.
- Soak and rinse the hawthorn berries, tangerine peel, and duck gizzard until clean.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 6–7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook for 1 hour, until the radish is completely soft and the broth is lightly fragrant.
- Serve hot and eat the solids along with the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is suitable for the whole family, young and old. It can be made regularly to prevent indigestion during rich-food seasons. Two important cautions: those taking qi-tonifying herbal medicines should not have this soup at the same time, as the radish may reduce the tonic’s effect. Pregnant women should swap out the hawthorn and use grain sprouts (gu ya) instead — a gentler digestive support that is safe during pregnancy.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (QQ): Are the dried duck gizzards dry or fresh? Bro Niu: They are dried. These days fresh duck gizzard is rarely sold on its own — the dried aged version is what’s used in this recipe.
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Q (Cola): I have a weak stomach and recently had gastritis. Can I drink this soup? Bro Niu: You can make the radish and duck gizzard soup without the hawthorn — just add an extra piece of tangerine peel. Hawthorn is too acidic for gastritis sufferers, so leave it out.
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Q (Anna): My 2-year-old has food accumulation. What soup would help? Bro Niu: You can use hawthorn, grain sprouts, and malt — 3 qian each — in a lean pork soup for the child. Simmer for 30–40 minutes and serve. This combination gently dissolves food stagnation in young children. Serve 2–3 days in a row.
Published January 30, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
