Soups
Deer Antler, Goji Berry, and Black-Boned Chicken Soup
Deer Antler, Goji Berry, and Black-Boned Chicken Soup is a classic premium medicinal soup, made with deer antler (Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum), goji berries, and black-boned chicken (silkie chicken) as the main ingredients, slowly simmered to perfection. It is often hailed as the "Great Vitality Restoring Soup" . Deer antler is warm in nature, sweet and salty in taste, and channels to the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is known for tonifying kidney yang, benefiting essence and blood, and strengthening bones and tendons. Goji berries are sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and channel to the Liver and Kidney meridians. They are known for nourishing the kidneys and moistening the lungs, and tonifying the liver and brightening the eyes. Black-boned chicken is neutral in nature, sweet in taste, and channels to the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is known for tonifying the liver and kidney, benefiting qi and blood, nourishing yin, and reducing deficiency heat. Together, deer antler greatly tonifies original yang, goji berries nourish yin and benefit the kidneys, and black-boned chicken nourishes blood and yin — achieving the combined effects of warming and tonifying kidney yang, benefiting qi and nourishing blood, and strengthening bones and tendons. The soup has a clear, slightly yellow broth, with tender black-boned chicken and a harmonious blend of the subtle herbal aroma of deer antler and the sweetness of goji berries. This soup is especially suitable for those with kidney yang deficiency, fear of cold with cold limbs, sore lower back and weak knees, fatigue, postpartum weakness, and recovery from serious illness.
Main Ingredients
- Black-boned chicken (silkie chicken) 1 piece (approx. 600-800g)
- Deer antler slices 10g
- Goji berries 40g
- Fresh ginger 5 slices
- Red dates (pitted) 8 pieces
- Salt To taste
- Yellow wine A splash
- Water 2000ml
Steps
Rinse the deer antler slices briefly and place them in a small bowl. Add a splash of yellow wine and soak for 15-20 minutes to activate the medicinal components. Deer antler is a precious ingredient — use sparingly. The recommended dosage for adults is 3-10g per serving, starting with 3-5g for first-time users.
After slaughtering the chicken, remove the feathers, internal organs, and claw tips. Remove excess fat and oil, and rinse thoroughly under running water. Cut the chicken into large chunks of about 4-5 cm (or keep whole). Removing excess fat ensures a clear, non-greasy soup.
Place the chicken chunks in a pot with enough cold water to cover, and add 2 slices of ginger. Bring to a boil over high heat and continue boiling for 3-5 minutes, skimming off any foam that rises. Remove the chicken, rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all impurities, and drain.
Red dates: Rinse and remove pits (the pits are warming; removal is recommended). Goji berries: Briefly soak in water and drain. Ginger: Peel and crush with the back of a knife.
Place the blanched chicken chunks, soaked deer antler slices (along with the soaking wine), red dates, and crushed ginger into a stewing pot. Add enough boiling water (approx. 1500-2000ml, enough to cover the ingredients). Cover the stewing pot and place it in a steamer.
Double-boil over low heat for 3-4 hours. The double-boiling method allows collagen to be fully extracted while preserving the active compounds of the herbs.
Add the goji berries 15 minutes before the end of cooking. Add salt to taste just before serving. Do not add MSG or other chemical seasonings.
TCM Notes
Modern Pharmacological Research: Warming and tonifying kidney yang: Phospholipids in deer antler promote hematopoietic function, and its active peptides regulate kidney metabolism. Significantly improves symptoms of kidney yang deficiency such as cold limbs, sore lower back, weak knees, and frequent nighttime urination. Benefiting qi and nourishing blood: Deer antler tonifies qi and blood, black-boned chicken benefits essence and blood, and goji berries nourish yin and blood. Together, they provide excellent nourishment for postpartum weakness and recovery from serious illness. Strengthening bones and tendons: Deer antler strengthens bones and tendons; black-boned chicken is rich in calcium and carnosine-like compounds that support bone health and muscle repair. Immunity enhancement: Goji berry polysaccharides scavenge free radicals and improve immune function. Black-boned chicken contains bioactive peptides that may have antioxidant and cardiovascular protective effects. Anti-fatigue and sleep improvement: This soup promotes blood circulation and enhances immunity, helping to alleviate fatigue and exhaustion.
Suitable for：Those with kidney yang deficiency (fear of cold, cold limbs, sore lower back and weak knees, fatigue, frequent nighttime urination) Postpartum women with qi-blood deficiency Those recovering from serious illness or chronic illness Middle-aged and older adults with kidney essence deficiency Men with sexual dysfunction and women with uterine coldness and infertility Patients with chronic kidney disease stages 1-3 (eGFR ≥ 30ml/min) Those with yang deficiency constitution who feel cold easily Generally suitable for most people in moderation during winter
Not suitable for：Those with yin deficiency with yang excess or yin deficiency with fire excess (palms and soles hot, night sweats, dry mouth and throat, flushed cheeks) — deer antler is warm and may worsen symptoms Those with blood heat or internal excess heat Those with stomach fire or lung phlegm-heat Those with external wind-heat, colds, or fever — may raise body temperature and delay recovery Those with damp-heat constitution or damp-heat accumulation Those in hypertensive crisis Those in acute gout flare-ups Those with liver insufficiency — may increase liver metabolic burden Pregnant women — the warming effect of deer antler may adversely affect the fetus Children and preschool-age children — strong tonic herbs are not suitable for children's constitutions Those allergic to any of the above ingredients
