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Cicada Fungus Flower, Ruiren Nut, Goji Berry and Carrot Pork Soup

Traditionally associated with supporting vision and reducing eye fatigue from screen use

In short: Cicada Fungus Flower, Ruiren Nut, Goji Berry and Carrot Pork Soup is a soup that Traditionally associated with supporting vision and reducing eye fatigue from screen use. It is most often made for energy & vitality, eye wellness. Total time about 110 min. Key ingredients: goji berries, carrot, lean pork.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
90 min
Total
110 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Energy & VitalityEye Wellness
Cicada Fungus Flower, Ruiren Nut, Goji Berry and Carrot Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Cicada fungus flower (jin chan hua) is a parasitic fungus that grows on cicadas, in the same biological family as the much more famous cordyceps. Research from Chinese and Hong Kong universities has noted a close genetic similarity between the two fungi; before this publicity pushed prices up, cicada fungus was relatively affordable at around 20–30 HKD per liang. Nourilo recommends making the most of it while it stays accessible. In traditional Chinese medicine it is associated with dispersing wind-heat, calming children’s fevers, brightening the eyes, and modulating immune function. Paired with ruiren nut (a traditional herb for nourishing the liver and eyes), goji berries (a classic liver-kidney tonic) and the beta-carotene richness of carrot, this soup has a mild herbal note and is easy to drink — suitable for everyone from children to the elderly, and a thoughtful choice for anyone spending long hours looking at screens.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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