- Prep Time15 Mins
- Cook Time90 Mins
- Serving4 People
- Serv SizeBowls
A gentle Cantonese-style tonic soup — naturally sweet, warming, and deeply restorative. In the five-flavor tradition, goji berries and red dates bring a soft sweetness that nourishes without heaviness, while ginger keeps the broth bright and digestible.
This is the kind of everyday soup Chinese families simmer when someone feels run-down, and it asks almost nothing of the cook: everything goes into one pot, and time does the work.
Ingredients
Directions
The secret to a clear, sweet broth is blanching the chicken first — two extra minutes that changes everything.
Blanch the chicken: cover with cold water, bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then rinse the pieces clean. This keeps the broth clear.
Place the chicken, ginger, red dates and water in a clean pot. Bring to a boil, then turn down to the gentlest simmer.
Simmer covered for 75–90 minutes, until the chicken is tender and the broth tastes naturally sweet.
Add the goji berries in the last 10 minutes only — overcooked goji turns mushy and slightly sour.
Season with sea salt and serve hot, with a little of everything in each bowl.
Conclusion
Traditionally served through autumn and winter to steady energy and support recovery. Shared as food tradition, not medical advice.
