Tofu Skin, Ginkgo, Barley, and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

A little vaginal discharge in the middle of the menstrual cycle is completely normal physiology. But when the discharge becomes continuous, unusually heavy, or accompanied by an unpleasant odour, it can be a sign that the body is struggling with what traditional Chinese medicine describes as an excess of “dampness” in the lower body. This light, refreshing sweet soup has been used for generations in Cantonese food therapy for exactly that purpose. Barley drains dampness from the digestive system; ginkgo nuts traditionally help reduce and consolidate excessive discharge; fresh tofu skin nourishes and moistens without being heavy; and water chestnuts cool and clear heat. Together they make a surprisingly delicious dessert soup that is genuinely pleasant to drink rather than feeling like medicine.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits women experiencing persistent, non-odorous excessive vaginal discharge; also beneficial for anyone with heat in the lungs, chronic phlegm, bad breath, or general dampness in the system
• Suitable for the whole family as a general cooling and nourishing sweet soup
• Pregnant women should avoid this soup — both raw barley and ginkgo nuts are cautioned against during pregnancy (remove barley or use cooked barley if pregnant; however, Bro Niu specifically advises avoiding it entirely and consulting a doctor)
• Those with a cold constitution or cold-type digestive weakness should use cooked barley (shu yi mi) instead of raw barley to reduce the cooling effect
• Do not exceed 10 ginkgo nuts per person per serving; always remove the inner green embryo (core)

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Ginkgo (bai guo): Traditionally used to consolidate and reduce excessive discharge; also associated with supporting lung function and easing breathlessness; the core must be removed as it contains a compound that can cause adverse reactions especially in children
• Barley / Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): The most widely used ingredient in Cantonese food therapy for draining excess dampness from the digestive system; raw barley (sheng yi mi) has a stronger clearing and cooling action; cooked barley (shu yi mi) is milder and warmer
• Fresh tofu skin / yuba (xian fu pi): Rich in plant protein; traditionally considered to nourish deficiency, moisten dryness, and help clear heat and phlegm — different from the dried tofu skin (fu zhu), though dried can be substituted
• Water chestnuts (ma ti): Naturally cooling and slightly sweet; associated with clearing heat, promoting urination, and dissolving phlegm

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Ginkgo nuts	10 pieces	Remove the inner green core before cooking
Raw barley (sheng yi mi)	37 g (1 liang)	Rinse and soak 30 min; use cooked barley if constitution is cold
Fresh tofu skin (yuba)	1 sheet	Dried tofu skin (fu zhu) also works
Water chestnuts	6 pieces	Peeled and washed; slice or leave whole
Rock sugar	to taste	Add at the end

Method

1. Remove the inner green core (embryo) from each ginkgo nut.
2. Rinse raw barley and soak for 30 minutes; drain.
3. Peel and wash the water chestnuts; cut into slices or leave whole.
4. Place all ingredients except rock sugar into a pot. Add 6 bowls of cold water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer for 1 hour until the liquid reduces to approximately 3 bowls.
6. Add rock sugar in the final few minutes and stir until dissolved.
7. Drink the soup and eat all the solid ingredients.

Bro Niu’s tips

• Beyond its traditional use for women’s health, this soup also traditionally supports: clearing lung heat, reducing phlegm, easing breathlessness, and freshening breath.
• This soup is gentle and suitable for the whole family — young and old alike.
• If a pregnant woman asks about this soup, Bro Niu advises removing the barley and not using this recipe during pregnancy.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Kary): I am 14 weeks pregnant and have a lot of discharge. Is this soup suitable? I am worried about taking medication. Bro Niu: During pregnancy, raw barley (yi mi) is not recommended. You can make this soup without the barley, using just the remaining ingredients, and simmer for 3 consecutive days.

• Q (Easy): My condition involves yellowish discharge from cervical erosion. Can I drink this soup too? Bro Niu: Cervical erosion requires medical treatment — food therapy can only serve as a supportive complement. This sweet soup is also fine to drink.

• Q (reader): Is the inner core of ginkgo at the top of the nut? I cannot always find it when I cut the nut open. Bro Niu: The core sits in the middle at the top of the nut. In younger, smaller ginkgo nuts it may be very small or not yet formed. Split the nut open lengthwise and you will see it clearly.

---

Published August 8, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.