老火湯LO FO TONG

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百子櫃THE HUNDRED DRAWERS

Goji berry / wolfberry

杞子
supports the kidneysbrightens the eyesnourishes blood滋補肝腎益精

The small oblong red berry of Lycium barbarum, sold dried, soft and pliable. Added in the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking, it lends a sweet-tart lift and jewel-red colour to sweet and savoury pots alike; overcooking turns it mushy and sour.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · liver、kidney

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it nourishes the liver and kidneys, builds the blood and brightens the eyes, the everyday finishing berry scattered into countless family pots.

Cautions — read first

  • Not while you have a cold or fever, inflammation in the body, or loose bowels
  • People with strong liver fire may find that a lot of it stokes the heat further

Preparation

Rinse them quickly. Add them at the end of the pot, in the last 10 to 15 minutes, so they do not cook to mush and turn sour.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

寧夏中寧 — AU retail stock is heavily Ningxia-labelled (e.g. Henghui Ningxia packs); also sold in mainstream health aisles

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$4.4–5.87 / 100g
Goldfish Red Medlar 100g $5.49; Henghui Ningxia 80g $4.69; Henghui 300g $13.19; also in mainstream health aisles

Pairs well with

Dried longan fleshDried lily bulbDried conch / sea snail headCordyceps flower (cultivated)

Soups that use this ingredient · 18

Double-boiled lean pork and conch with prince ginsengA$19–28
太子參螺頭燉瘦肉
replenishes qistrengthens the spleennourishes yinAll year
百子櫃Prince ginseng· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· 1街市Lean pork· 150 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 4 g (1 mace)百子櫃Candied honey date· 1

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

Double-boiled chicken with lion's mane mushroomA$12–16
猴頭菇燉雞
strengthens the spleeneases indigestionreplenishes qi3h slow fireAll year
百子櫃Lion's mane mushroom (dried)· 30 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· 30 g街市Lean pork· 25 g街市Chicken feet· 2百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 3 g

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

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.”

Goji leaf, pig liver and lean pork soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
枸杞葉豬膶瘦肉湯（枸杞菜湯）
soothes the liverbrightens the eyesnourishes bloodSpringSummerAll year
街市Goji leaves· 1 to 2 bunches街市Pig liver· about 150 to 200 g街市Lean pork· about 150 g百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 tablespoon街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices百子櫃Rice wine (cooking wine)· a splash (少許)

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Coconut, red date and chicken soupA$43–45
椰子紅棗雞湯
replenishes qinourishes bloodrelieves drynessWinterAll year
街市Coconut· 1街市Old hen (stewing chicken)· 1百子櫃Red jujube date· 6百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 8 g (2 mace)街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

Double-boiled silkie chicken with Chinese yam and goji berriesA$12–22
淮山杞子燉烏雞
replenishes qinourishes bloodstrengthens the spleen3.5h slow fireAll yearAutumnWinter
街市Silkie (black-boned chicken)· half a bird百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 40 g (1 tael)百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 12 g (3 mace)百子櫃Red jujube date· 4街市Lean pork· 100 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

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