Dang Gui Chuan Gong Blood Nourishing Soup

The Chinese always believed that blood is a woman's lifeline and many have depended on the traditional "herbal blood tonics" to enhance one's health and looks. Beside the herbals tonics, chicken is also an excellent food tonic for the physique. When the two are combined, it becomes an excellent recipe for a great beauty in the making.

Not only does it enhance one's radiance, but also provide nourishment for the blood and restores 'qi' deficiency. The soup formula has a mild warming effect and is likened to a mini set of 8 herbal treasures. It is suitable for most women except for those down with cold and feeling heaty.

The chicken flavor of the soup is more potent using old hens, if you prefer more distinct herbal flavor, omit the ginger as it will tone the flavor down. But red dates together with old ginger will help to regulate blood circulation.

Recipe: Dang Gui & Chuan Gong Blood Nourishing Soup（当归川芎养血汤）
Serves: 2-3 pax

Ingredients:
• 20g Dang Gui (当归)
• 20g Chuan Gong (川芎)
• 15g Dang Shen (党参)
• 10g Liquorice (甘草)
• 20 pieces Red Dates (红枣)
• 15g Old Ginger, sliced (老姜)
• 1 whole old hen (about 1.5kg) (老母鸡)
• 2 litres water
• salt to taste (i use ½tsp)

Method:
1. Clean chicken, chop into pieces, remove and discard the gobs of fat and skin. Blanch with boiling water and set aside.

2. Wash all ingredients.


3. Add water, chicken and all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.


3. Reduce to a rapid simmer over low-to-medium heat for 2 hours.

3. Turn the heat off, skim off fats and particles. Season with salt according to your preference before serving.

Dang Gui                                                                  Chuan Gong

Dang Gui is one of the four highly acclaimed herbal tonics for blood. Together with Chuan Gong, is great for haematopoiesis and nourishment of blood in women.

Dang Shen                                                                 Liquorice

Both work together help to improve one's vitality and immunity.

Red dates

With old ginger, they nourish the blood and improve one's radiance, also help to regulate blood circulation.

Do not season with pepper or chilli when taking the soup, as it will 'kill' the efficacy.