Codonopsis root

黨參

strengthens the spleenreplenishes qinourishes blood健脾益肺補中益氣養血生津性質平和不溫不燥，最宜脾虛濕重都市人

The root of Codonopsis pilosula, sold as wrinkled tan strips with a sweet, mild flavour often likened to a gentler ginseng. It boils down soft and slightly chewy, sweetening the broth and giving tonic pots an approachable, everyday character.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · spleen、lung

Traditional food therapy

The everyday centre-strengthener of Cantonese food therapy, paired with astragalus and red dates to build qi and blood and support the spleen and lungs, gentle and unheaty for the tired city constitution.

Cautions — read first

Take care where the qi is stuck, or where heat is full
Do not eat it with radish, which scatters the qi and cancels out the tonic effect
Avoid strong tea

Preparation

Soak, rinse and snip it into lengths.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

山西上黨（得名之地）／甘肅（今紋黨、白條黨為大宗） — an ordinary dried-goods line at AU Asian grocers (Henghui codonopsis stripes)

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$11.78–11.78 / 100g
Henghui Premium Codonopsis Pilosula Stripes 50g $5.89

Pairs well with

Astragalus root Red jujube date Dried Chinese yam Lotus seed Poria White atractylodes rhizome

Soups that use this ingredient · 4

Double-boiled lean pork with codonopsis and astragalusNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

黨參北芪燉瘦肉

replenishes qistrengthens the spleenmoistens the lungs3h slow fireAll yearAutumnWinter

百子櫃Codonopsis root· 25 g百子櫃Astragalus root· 20 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 6 to 8 slices百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 2 tablespoons百子櫃Candied honey date· 2街市Lean pork· 200 g

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

Double-boiled chicken with notoginseng (tienchi)Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

田七燉雞 (黨參田七棗仁燉烏雞)

replenishes qirelaxes sinews and jointspostpartum nourishmentAll yearWinter

街市Silkie (black-boned chicken)· 1百子櫃Notoginseng· 15 g百子櫃Codonopsis root· 30 g百子櫃Sour jujube seed· 20 g

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

Ten-treasure tonic chicken soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

十全大補雞湯

replenishes qinourishes blooddispels coldWinter

百子櫃Codonopsis root· to taste百子櫃White atractylodes rhizome· 12 g百子櫃Poria· 12 g百子櫃Honey-fried licorice root· 6 g百子櫃Chinese angelica root· 9 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 6 g… +6

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

Codonopsis and astragalus qi-tonic soup with lean porkA$11–15

黨參北芪紅棗瘦肉湯

replenishes qistrengthens the spleennourishes bloodWinterAll year

百子櫃Codonopsis root· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Astragalus root· 20 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Red jujube date· 8百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 12 g街市Lean pork· 300 g

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