中药材鸡汤是我童年记忆最深的汤之一。鸡肉鲜美，中药材增添了泥土的香味和甜味。汤用文火慢炖，直到鸡肉散开，感觉就像一碗饱餐一顿。我父母经常做这道汤，有时还会搭配美味的乌鸡。
Chinese herbal chicken soup is one of the soups I remember most from my childhood. It’s savory from the chicken, and the Chinese herbs add an earthiness and sweetness. The soup is simmered gently until the chicken falls apart, and it feels like a full meal in a bowl. My parents would make this regularly, and sometimes with delicious black silky chicken.
为了让这个食谱不那么吓人且更容易获得，我选择使用鸡腿而不是整只鸡，这是我父母做这种汤的传统方式。
To make this recipe a little less intimidating and more accessible, I chose to use chicken leg quarters instead of a whole chicken, which is the traditional way my parents would make this soup.
这汤不仅美味，还富含营养，并具有增强免疫力的中草药成分。
Not only is this soup delicious, it’s packed with nutrients and immune-boosting benefits from the Chinese herbal ingredients.
制作中药材鸡汤需要哪些材料？(What ingredients do I need to make Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup?)
每个家庭都有自己独特的中药材鸡汤，有的用料多，有的用料少。这些是我父母用来制作他们版本的中药材鸡汤的原料！
Every family will have their own version of Chinese herbal chicken soup, some with more ingredients and some with fewer. These are the ingredients my parents used to make their version!
中药材鸡汤材料(Ingredients for Chinese herbal chicken soup)：
鸡(Chicken)
- 我父母总是用整只鸡来做这道汤，但为了让这道菜不那么吓人，我用鸡腿代替。你也可以用深色肉块，比如鸡翅、鸡腿和鸡腿。我建议用深色肉，因为它更美味、更嫩！My parents always make this soup using a whole chicken, but to make this recipe less intimidating, I use chicken leg quarters instead. You can also use a combination of dark meat pieces, like wings, thighs, and drumsticks. I do recommend using dark meat as it’s more flavorful and tender!
- 我们还经常用黑丝鸡做这种汤（味道鲜美，富含维生素）！We also regularly make this soup with black silky chicken (which is very flavorful and packed with vitamins)!
猪骨或瘦肉(Pork bones or lean meat)
- 我从父母那里学到的另一件事是在这个汤里加入几块猪骨或瘦猪肉。这会让汤更浓郁、更美味，而且你只需要几块。不过，如果你不吃猪肉或不想加猪肉，你可以不加。Another thing I learned from my parents is to add a few pork bones or lean pork meat to this soup. It adds more depth and savory flavor to the soup, and you only need a few pieces. However, you can leave it out if you don’t eat pork or don’t want to add it.
姜(Ginger)
- 与大多数其他含有鸡肉的中国菜一样，我们添加姜！As with most other Chinese dishes that include chicken, we add ginger!
山药(Chinese dried wild yam)
- 中文名称：淮山；Chinese name: huáishān (淮山); waai4 saan1 (Cantonese)
- 学名：薯蓣（有时在包装上标明其学名）Scientific name: dioscorea radix (it’s sometimes labeled with its scientific name on packaging)
- 在传统中医中，山药被认为具有增强免疫力、滋补脾胃等多种功效。In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese wild yams are believed to be immunity-boosting and nourishing for the spleen and stomach, among multiple other benefits.
黄芪(Astralagus Root)
- 中文名称：huáng qí (黄旗) 或 běi qí (北芪)；wong4 kei4 或 bak1 kei4（粤语）Chinese name: huáng qí (黄旗) or běi qí (北芪); wong4 kei4 or bak1 kei4 (Cantonese)
- 学名：黄芪（有时在包装上标明其学名）Scientific name: radix astralagi (it’s sometimes labeled with its scientific name on packaging)
- 在传统中医中，黄芪根被认为具有增强免疫力、治疗呼吸系统疾病、抗炎等功效。In Traditional Chinese Medicine, astralagus root is believed to be immunity-boosting, great for respiratory illnesses, and anti-inflammatory, among other benefits.
党参(Codonopsis Root)
- 中文名称：党参；dong2 sam1（粤语）Chinese name: dǎng shēn (党参); dong2 sam1 (Cantonese)
- 学名：党参（有时在包装上标明其学名）Scientific name: codonopsis pilosula (it’s sometimes labeled with its scientific name on packaging)
- 在传统中医中，党参根被认为具有增强免疫力、促进消化、补充能量等功效。In Traditional Chinese Medicine, codonopsis root is believed to be immune-boosting, and great for digestion and energy, among other benefits.
龙眼干(Dried Longan)
- 中文名称：guìyǎn（桂圆）或yuánròu（圆肉）； jyun4 juk6（粤语）Chinese name: guìyǎn (桂圓) or yuánròu (圓肉); jyun4 juk6 (Cantonese)
- 在传统中医中，龙眼干被认为具有促进血液循环、补充能量等功效。In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dried longan are believed to be good for blood circulation and energy, among other benefits.
干枣、红枣或红枣(Dried Jujube, Chinese Date, or Red Date)
- 中文名称：红枣； hong2 zao3（粤语）Chinese name: hóng zǎo (红枣); hong2 zao3 (Cantonese)
- 通常，您可以购买去核的或切半的。You can usually buy these pre-pitted or halved.
- 在传统中医中，人们认为枣有利于血液、消化系统健康和睡眠，还有其他益处。In Traditional Chinese Medicine, jujubes are believed to be good for your blood, digestive health, and sleep, among other benefits.
枸杞 (Goji Berry or Wolfberry)
- 中文名称：枸杞； gau2 gei2 (粤语) Chinese name: gǒuqǐ (枸杞); gau2 gei2 (Cantonese)
- 学名：枸杞（有时在包装上标明其学名）Scientific name: fructus lycii (it’s sometimes labeled with its scientific name on packaging)
- 在传统中医中，枸杞被认为具有抗炎、富含抗氧化剂、有益于消化系统健康和肝脏等功效。 In Traditional Chinese Medicine, goji berries are believed to be anti-inflammatory and full of antioxidants, good for digestive health and liver, among other benefits.
对于我的父母来说，这道汤最重要的原料是山药、桂圆、红枣和枸杞。
For my parents, the most essential out of these ingredients for this soup are the Chinese dried wild yam, dried longan, dried jujube, and goji berries.
如果您怀孕、哺乳或患有自身免疫性疾病，建议在服用某些中草药成分之前咨询医生或专家。
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an autoimmune disease, it’s advised to consult your doctor or an expert before consuming certain Chinese herbal ingredients.
我可以在哪里买到制作中药材鸡汤的材料？(Where can I buy the ingredients to make Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup?)
您通常可以在大多数中国超市找到中药材。我在 99 Ranch Market 或唐人街买。
You can usually find Chinese herbal ingredients at most Chinese supermarkets. I get mine at either 99 Ranch Market or in Chinatown.
如今，它们也在网上销售！请务必阅读包装上的成分以确保其质量。
Nowadays, they are also sold online! Just be sure to read the ingredients on the package to ensure their quality.
