Discover a soothing Chinese soup for common cold made with pork ribs, carrots, potatoes, and goji berries.
When the flu hit me — sore throat, blocked nose, pounding head — I didn’t want food, conversation, or even medicine. I just wanted to curl up and disappear.
That’s when my grandmother quietly placed a bowl of soup in front of me. A clear, fragrant Chinese soup with pork ribs, carrots, potatoes, and goji berries. “Drink this,” she said in Teochew.
I wasn’t hungry. But the warmth, the aroma, the cheerful orange carrots — they pulled me in. I took a sip.
And something shifted.
The heat soothed my throat. The potato melted in my mouth. The goji berries added a gentle sweetness. I finished the bowl. My nose cleared. My headache eased. I felt… better.
That’s when I realized: this wasn’t just soup. It was medicine — the kind that heals naturally.
Why I Choose Soup Over Cold Medicine
I used to reach for flu meds. But they left me groggy, dizzy, and disconnected. Some even needed antacids to offset their side effects. That’s when I started asking: Why are we okay with “cures” that make us feel worse before better?
Chinese soups, on the other hand, are gentle, nourishing, and effective. They don’t just mask symptoms — they support your body’s natural healing process.
Isn’t drinking a nice hot bowl of Chinese soup a more enjoyable way to ease flu symptoms than popping pills made with chemicals that cannot even be pronounced.
I now try to learn more about my own body and how it functions before buying any kind of medications or pills. What works for someone else may not work for me. But I believe soup for the common cold is good for everyone.
What Makes Chinese Soup for Common Cold So Powerful?
Chinese soups deliver nutrients to the sick body to fight off “nasty invaders”. In fact, some ingredients are positively good for fighting colds.
A warm broth helps open nasal passages and soothe sore throats, whet the appetitie and kickstarts sluggy digestive systems.
Prevent the flu by drinking soups that boost immunity.
My Go-To Chinese Soup for Common Cold
I like to drink this pork rib soup with potato and carrot whenever I am feeling overworked, tired and stressed.
Ingredients
- 200g potatoes
- 100g carrots
- 300g pork ribs
- 2 tbsp goji berries 枸杞子 (gou qi zi)
- 3 dried red dates, cored
- 1800ml water
- Salt & pepper
Directions
- Parboil the pork ribs, drain, wash & trim off any excess fat
- Peel the carrots and potatoes, cut into bite-sized cubes
- Bring 1800ml water to boil, add ribs, carrots and potatoes
- Add the gou ji zi and red dates
- Simmer for 30 mins. Add salt and pepper to taste
- Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving
You can make this soup in the slow cooker or instant pot. For the slow cooker, place the water and ingredients into the earthen pot and turn the slow cooker on high. Cover and let it cook for about 30 minutes. Turn to low and continue to cook till the potato is soft and pork ribs is tender.
Do not try to shorten cooking time by increasing heat. Cooking over low heat is important. The flavour of the soup does require more than 30 minutes of simmering to develop.
Final Thoughts: Healing Starts in the Kitchen
I’m not against medicine — but I believe in healing that feels good, tastes good, and supports your body. This Chinese soup for common cold is more than a recipe. It’s a tradition. A remedy. A warm hug in a bowl.
Next time you’re feeling sick, skip the pills for a moment. Try soup. Try warmth. Try Granny’s way.
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