老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Nourishing tonics

American ginseng, dendrobium and conch soup

花旗參石斛螺頭湯
replenishes qinourishes yinclears heatbrightens the eyesrelieves drynesscalms the spiritAll yearSummer slow-boiled · 2.5 hours A$98–225

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

Ingredients

百子櫃American ginseng20 g (5 mace)
百子櫃Dendrobium stem20 g (5 mace)
百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head200 g
百子櫃Solomon's seal rhizome20 g (5 mace)
百子櫃Red jujube date4
街市Lean pork300 g

Method

  1. Soak the 螺頭 (sea whelk) until soft, or thaw it if frozen, then blanch it (汆水, a quick boil to clean it)
  2. Cut the lean pork into pieces and blanch
  3. Wash the 花旗參 (American ginseng), 石斛 (dendrobium), 玉竹 (Solomon’s seal root) and 紅棗 (red dates)
  4. Put everything in with 2.5 litres of water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat
  5. Turn the heat low, simmer for 2.5 hours and season with salt

Who it suits

  • people keeping late nights
  • smokers and drinkers
  • rising deficient heat (虛火上炎)

Who should take care

  • people with yang deficiency who feel the cold, or who have loose stools, should take care with 花旗參
  • 花旗參 is not suitable during a cold
  • gout sufferers take care with long-boiled 螺頭 soups
  • not suitable after childbirth or during a period (螺頭)

Soup stories

A 涼補 or cooling-tonic soup for the late-night crowd, and popular in summer too.

From the same family

Double-boiled lean pork with ginseng and dendrobiumA$12–66
人參石斛燉瘦肉
replenishes qinourishes yinmoistens the lungsAll year
百子櫃Korean red ginseng· 8 g百子櫃Dendrobium stem· 12 g街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 4街市Fresh ginger· 4 slices

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

Double-boiled chicken with cordycepsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬蟲夏草燉雞
supports the kidneysreplenishes qisoothes cough3h slow fireWinter
百子櫃Cordyceps· 3 to 5 pieces, about 2 to 3 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half街市Lean pork· 100 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

Double-boiled teal with cordycepsNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)
冬蟲草燉水鴨
moistens the lungssupports the kidneyssoothes cough3.5h slow fireWinter
百子櫃Cordyceps· 3 to 5 pieces百子櫃Teal (small wild-type duck)· 1百子櫃Dried fig· 2百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· a quarter piece街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

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

Lo Fo Tong is cultural food-heritage reference, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, talk to your doctor or registered practitioner before changing what is in the pot.