Tiger Milk Mushroom, Cordyceps Flower and Almond Quail Soup

Why people make this soup

Children’s immune systems are still developing, and those with a tendency towards weak lungs — frequent colds, easy coughing, shortness of breath — often benefit from ongoing, gentle support rather than waiting until they fall sick. In Chinese food therapy, strengthening the lung qi is considered a key strategy for building resistance over time. This soup is designed specifically with children’s tastes in mind: tiger milk mushroom and cordyceps flower are much milder in flavour than standard ganoderma (the usual ‘lingzhi’ mushroom), and quail makes a lighter, sweeter broth than chicken. Even young children who usually refuse medicinal soups often accept this one.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for children and adults, especially those who are prone to colds, coughs, or wheeziness
• Suitable for most constitutions as a regular wellness soup
• If a child or family member is currently running a fever or in the acute stage of illness, wait until recovery before using a tonifying soup like this one

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi): A prized medicinal mushroom widely used in Southeast Asian folk medicine and increasingly studied for its respiratory and immune-supporting properties; crucially for children, it has virtually no bitter taste or strong medicinal smell
• Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): The cultivated fruiting body of Cordyceps militaris; a more accessible and affordable alternative to wild Cordyceps, traditionally associated with tonifying lung and kidney qi and supporting energy
• Mixed almonds (nan bei xing): The combination of sweet southern almond and slightly bitter northern almond is a classic Chinese soup pairing for moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, and promoting smooth breathing; they also add a pleasant milky depth to the broth
• Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Moves qi, aids digestion, and helps prevent the tonic herbs from feeling heavy on the stomach; adds a subtle citrus fragrance

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi)	15 g	Soak and rinse before use
Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua)	18 g	Rinse and soak briefly
Mixed almonds (nan bei xing)	37 g	Rinse
Dried tangerine peel (chen pi)	1 piece	Rinse
Quail, frozen	1 pair (2 birds)	Clean and blanch in boiling water first

Method

1. Soak and rinse the tiger milk mushroom, cordyceps flower, and almonds; set aside.
2. Clean the quail thoroughly. Blanch in boiling water for 2–3 minutes to remove impurities; drain and set aside.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls (about 1.6 litres) of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
5. Cook for 1.5 hours until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
6. Season lightly if needed and serve. Drink the broth and eat the quail and almonds.

Bro Niu’s tips

• Tiger milk mushroom is especially good for children because it has no bitter or medicinal taste — unlike regular ganoderma which many children find hard to accept.
• This soup is safe and gentle enough for regular use; serve it 2–3 times per week during the colder months or whenever the family feels run-down.
• If tiger milk mushroom is unavailable where you live, you can substitute regular ganoderma (ling zhi); the soup will be slightly more bitter but the health benefits are similar.
• The soup can be prepared in a slow electric cooker; reduce the water by about one to two bowls to account for less evaporation.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (yo): Can I add apple, corn, or carrot to the tiger milk mushroom soup? And how often should I serve it? My daughter sneezes and has a runny nose every morning. Bro Niu: Yes, you can absolutely add apple, corn, carrot, snow fungus, or almonds to enrich the soup. These ingredients all support lung qi and can help improve this kind of constitution over time. Serve it 2–3 times per week.

• Q (Hannah Ding): My children (3 years old and 1 year old) have had persistent yellow mucus for two weeks and have finished a course of antibiotics. Will this soup help? Bro Niu: Try the soup for them. For yellow nasal discharge, add 8 magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua) to the pot as well. The one-year-old can have half a bowl spread over the day.

---

Published February 5, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.