老火湯LO FO TONG

All soups › Nourishing tonics

Ten-treasure tonic chicken soup

十全大補雞湯
replenishes qinourishes blooddispels coldWinter slow-boiled · 2.5 hours Not yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

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

Ingredients

百子櫃Codonopsis root· or 3 g ginseng; usually bought as a ready-made 十全 soup packto taste
百子櫃Poria12 g
百子櫃White peony root12 g
百子櫃Astragalus root12 g
百子櫃Cinnamon bark2 g
街市Old hen (stewing chicken)· dressed chicken, blanched1
街市Fresh ginger3 slices

Method

  1. Give the herbs a quick rinse, or simply use a ready-made 十全 (Ten Complete) soup pack from a dried goods or herbal shop.
  2. Blanch the dressed chicken (汆水, a quick boil that draws out the blood and scum).
  3. Put everything in with the ginger slices, add 3 litres of water and bring to the boil over high heat.
  4. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, then season with salt.

Who it suits

  • people low in both qi and blood
  • after a serious illness

Who should take care

  • Avoid with a cold or fever
  • Avoid if you run hot and dry with yin depletion and rising fire
  • Pregnant women need a practitioner's guidance

Soup stories

It comes from the Song dynasty formula 十全大補湯, the Ten Complete Great Tonic Decoction. In Hong Kong most people buy it as a ready-made herb pack from a dried goods or herbal shop.

From the same family

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.