Soups
Snow Ear Fungus, Lily Bulb, Goji Berry and Silkie Chicken Soup
traditionally used to nourish yin, calm the mind, and support recovery from chronic stress and fatigue
Why people make this soup
Surveys suggest that a significant proportion of Hong Kong’s working population experiences what used to be called “nervous exhaustion” — a pattern of chronic fatigue, disrupted sleep, heart palpitations, and heightened anxiety driven by overwork, poor rest, and sustained stress. The term may sound old-fashioned, but the experience is very real. Traditional Chinese food therapy addresses this through a category of ingredients that “calm the heart and settle the spirit” — and this soup draws on some of the most trusted of them.
Snow ear fungus (a close relative of the better-known tremella mushroom) is traditionally considered one of the finest foods for nourishing yin and moistening both the lungs and skin. Lily bulb is a classical “spirit-calming” ingredient. Goji berries support the liver and kidneys. And silkie chicken — the dark-feathered, dark-fleshed bird prized in Chinese cooking — is traditionally considered gentler and more deeply nourishing than regular chicken, making it particularly appropriate for those in a depleted, fatigued state.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Well suited to people with chronic stress, overwork fatigue, poor or restless sleep, mild anxiety, or heart palpitations linked to nervous exhaustion
- Also helpful for those with dull or rough skin, a tired complexion, or yin deficiency with internal heat
- Suitable for most adults and older children — a gentle, nourishing everyday soup
- Those with an active cold or fever should wait until recovered before consuming nourishing soups
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Snow ear fungus (xue er / yin er, Tremella fuciformis): Rich in natural polysaccharides; traditionally described as sweet and neutral, deeply moistening for the lungs and skin, and nourishing to yin. One of the most valued beauty foods in Chinese wellness tradition.
- Lily bulb (bai he): Mildly cooling and sweet; one of the most classic “spirit-settling” ingredients in Chinese food therapy, traditionally used to calm anxiety, settle heart palpitations, ease insomnia, and gently moisten the lungs.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourish the liver and kidneys, brighten the eyes, and gently tonify the blood; well-studied in modern research for their antioxidant polysaccharides.
- Red dates (hong zao): A gentle qi and blood tonic that adds warmth, natural sweetness, and balances the cooler ingredients.
- Silkie chicken (zhu si ji / wu ji): In Chinese food therapy, silkie chicken is considered deeply nourishing, particularly for blood and yin deficiency. Its dark meat and bones are associated with stronger nourishing properties than standard chicken.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snow ear fungus (dried) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Soak in cold water 30 min; remove the tough base (pedicle) after soaking |
| Fresh lily bulb | ~75 g (2 liang) | Separate petals, rinse (or use 37 g dried, soaked first) |
| Goji berries | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse briefly |
| Red dates | 5 pieces | Remove pits |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | — |
| Silkie chicken | 1 whole bird (~600–700 g) | Clean, chop into large pieces, blanch briefly |
| Water | 8–9 bowls (~1.3 L) | — |
Method
- Soak the snow ear fungus in cold water for 30 minutes until fully hydrated. Remove and discard the tough yellowish base. Tear or cut into smaller florets.
- Separate the fresh lily bulb into petals and rinse clean.
- Rinse the goji berries; pit the red dates.
- Clean and chop the silkie chicken into large pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 2–3 minutes; drain and rinse.
- Place the snow ear fungus, ginger slices, red dates, and silkie chicken pieces in a pot with 8–9 bowls of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer for 1.5 hours (90 minutes).
- Add the fresh lily bulb and goji berries. Cook for a further 15 minutes until fragrant and tender.
- The soup should reduce to approximately 4–5 bowls. Serve hot; eat the soup and all the solid ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is fragrant, lightly sweet, and genuinely delicious — everyone in the family can enjoy it. It is also beneficial for those with yin-deficient heat patterns, rough skin, or a dull complexion. For regular calming and sleep support, foods like wheat grain (xiao mai mi), sour jujube seed (suan zao ren), cypress seed (bai zi ren), longan flesh (yuan rou), and poria with wood (fu shen) are all useful additions to a weekly routine.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (YIYI): My husband is 43 and under constant work pressure. He cannot fall asleep until after midnight, wakes at 5 or 6 a.m. and cannot get back to sleep, and feels exhausted all day even after resting. He smokes. What soup can help his sleep? Bro Niu: Try a Korean five-flavour berry (wu wei zi) juice — look for it at Korean supermarkets; one sachet in the evening can help with sleep and liver support. For a soup: simmer wheat grain (2 liang), fu shen (poria with wood, 1 liang), honey-prepared licorice (zhi gan cao, 2 qian), red dates (5), lily bulb (1 liang), and five-flavour berry (wu wei zi, 3 qian) with pork shin in 8 bowls of water for 2 hours. The whole family can drink it — 2–3 times a week is a good rhythm for easing stress and sleep difficulty.
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Q (Susanna): My daughter’s face has been persistently red recently. We thought it was dry weather, but moisturiser hasn’t helped much. Could it be a health issue? Bro Niu: Check whether it might be a skin allergy. If she is going through puberty and the redness is on the cheeks and does not fade, it could be rosacea — in which case, seeing a dermatologist would give you a clearer picture.
Published November 22, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
