老火湯LO FO TONG

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街市THE WET MARKET

Chicken egg (hard-boiled)

雞蛋
nourishes yinrelieves drynessnourishes bloodcalms the spirit

The ordinary hen's egg, used in Cantonese soup work hard-boiled and shelled, then returned to the pot to simmer in the liquid. It soaks up the surrounding sweetness — longan, lotus seed, red date or mulberry-mistletoe tea — while adding gentle protein richness. A staple of sweet soup-teas rather than savoury boils.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung、spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy the egg is used to nourish yin, moisten dryness, replenish blood and calm the spirit, a gentle everyday tonic with few restrictions.

Cautions — read first

  • Avoid if you are allergic to eggs
  • Those with high cholesterol should keep the portion moderate, as their doctor advises

Preparation

Hard-boil and shell them first, then put them into the pot to simmer with the soup (the method for longan, lotus seed and egg soup, and for mulberry mistletoe, lotus seed and egg tea).

Origin

全國蛋場飼養，供本地市場

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$3.69–8.49 / pack
Per dozen XL: Pace Farm cage $3.69 (promo, was $8.79); premium white free range $8.49 (Umall)

Pairs well with

Dried longan fleshLotus seedRed jujube dateTaxillus / mulberry mistletoe

Soups that use this ingredient · 5

Spinach, fresh yam and goji egg-drop soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
菠菜淮山杞子蛋花湯（菠菜蛋花滾湯）
strengthens the spleenreplenishes qisoothes the liverSpring
街市Spinach· 1 bunch百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 1 length百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 tablespoon街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 1 to 2街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Tomato egg-drop soupA$2–7
番茄蛋花湯
whets the appetiteAll year
街市Tomato· 1 to 2, about 300 g街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 2 to 3街市Spring onion / scallion· a pinch百子櫃Tofu· 1 block

“Just off the stove — drink it while it is hot.”

Longan, lotus seed and egg soupA$5–6
龍眼肉蓮子雞蛋湯
calms the spiritnourishes bloodnourishes the complexionAll year
百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 12 g百子櫃Lotus seed· 40 g (1 tael)街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 2百子櫃Red jujube date· 4街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Simmered the whole day — nothing held back.”

Laver (nori) egg-drop soup, often with tofuA$1–6
紫菜蛋花湯（紫菜豆腐蛋花湯）
clears heatpromotes water metabolismAll year
百子櫃Dried laver (nori)· 1 small sheet, or a small handful街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 1 to 2百子櫃Tofu· 1 block百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 1 tablespoon街市Spring onion / scallion· a pinch百子櫃Superior stock· 800 ml to 1 litre

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Pig liver, lean pork and goji-berry egg-drop soupA$4–7
豬膶瘦肉枸杞蛋花湯（杞子豬膶湯）
nourishes bloodbrightens the eyesmoistens the lungsWinterSpringAll year
街市Pig liver· 150 g街市Lean pork· 150 g百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 to 2 tablespoons街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 1 to 2街市Fresh ginger· 2 to 3 slices

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”