Cordyceps

Caterpillar fungus, the dried fruiting body of Ophiocordyceps sinensis growing from a ghost-moth larva on the Tibetan plateau, sold as whole matchstick-sized sticks graded by size and count. A few sticks are double-boiled, never hard-boiled, lending an earthy, savoury depth to clear tonic broths such as the classic teal-duck tong.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung、kidney

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is reserved for gentle recuperation, traditionally double-boiled to replenish qi, support the lungs and kidneys, and ease long-standing cough and phlegm after illness.

Cautions — read first

• Not to be taken as a tonic while a cold is still running or an exterior pathogen is present
• Not for casual tonic use in children
• It is expensive and widely faked, so buy from a herbal shop you trust

Preparation

Brush off the dirt and grit and give it a quick rinse. It is mostly double-boiled (隔水燉, the covered jar sits in a water bath), as in 冬蟲草燉水鴨, at 3 to 5 pieces per jar. Do not boil it hard for hours.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

青海玉樹／西藏那曲（青藏高原蟲草） — whole sticks are effectively absent from AU domestic retail; only capsules and cultivated CS-4 powders are sold

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists

Pairs well with