Winter Recipes

With nutrient-dense eel and Astragalus at its core, this delicious recipe tonifies Qi, Blood and Yin, disperses wind and cold, drains damp, and strengthens bones. A perfect combination for prevention against wind, damp and cold patterns often seen in winter.

This recipe is suitable for those who often stay up late, work too much, and “burn the candle at both ends” which can result in a restless mind with sleep disturbance and possibly a difficult time focusing on the task at hand. In this recipe, Ling zhi is sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and slightly warm or neutral in temperature. It enters the Heart, Lung and Liver meridians and can replenish the Heart blood, calm the mind, and soothe the Liver. Ling zhi is helpful for restlessness, forgetfulness and physical and mental fatigue caused by Qi and Blood deficiency. Used long-term, it is supportive for the immune system and protects the body from everyday stress.

Chinese herbal chicken soup is one of the best ways to strengthen the Qi and Blood to prepare for Autumn and Winter. Although the Chinese and Western views about when to eat chicken soup differ, both agree that chicken soup is a strong tonic to the system. Used in appropriate quantities, the herbs add complexity without making the soup taste medicinal. 

This goji, red dates, angelica and lamb soup recipe is from Zhang Zhongjing’s "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet". It has the therapeutic effects of nourishing Qi and Blood, warming the Heart and Kidney, strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, and strengthening the body, making it a very suitable tonic for winter.

A special dish for festive occasions, 8 Treasure Duck is a delicacy you can make at home. The “8” refers to there being 8 precious ingredients stuffed into a duck and braised. Fillings, marinades, and preparation methods may vary by region, so feel free to put your own spin on it.

The beloved apple has many benefits from a TCM perspective, aside from it being a nourishing and crunchy treat. Apples are cool, sweet Yin tonics that enter the Heart, Lung and Stomach meridians, and some sources say they enter the Liver meridian as well. Apples clear Heat and encourage the movement of Qi. When combined with the perfect spicy and warming trio of Rou Gui, Rou Dou Ko and Ding Xiang, which supports the digestive function, your middle Jiao will be exceedingly happy!

It’s the time of year to get cozy with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and what better way to add a little warmth than with herbs? Drinking chocolate is a New World tradition that goes back to the time of the Olmecs. Cups of chocolate show up in Mayan glyphs and Aztec leader Montezuma is rumored to have drank 50 cups of chocolate a day.

Adzuki (sometimes spelled aduki) beans are the Chinese herb Chi xiao dou: sweet, sour and neutral to slightly cold, they drain dampness and heat from the body. When balanced with warming vegetables and spices, Chi xiao dou prevents the curry from being overly warming and helps the body drain excessive dampness, something commonly needed as we transition from winter to spring.

Everyone can use a little Qi nourishment at this time of year, and this classic Chinese herbal chicken soup gives a well-rounded boost to the system. This recipe uses Mayway's USDA-certified organic herbs.

Try this delicious new twist on an old breakfast favorite! We’ve substituted Gou Qi Zi (goji berries) for raisins and added walnuts to a traditional cinnamon bread. According to Chinese medicine, Rou Gui/Cinnamon bark warms and tonifies Kidney, Heart and Spleen Yang, warms and unblocks the channels and vessels, and encourages the generation of Qi and Blood. 

According to Chinese medicine, lamb is the perfect meat to warm and tonify Kidney Qi and Yang during the cold winter months. Lamb is classified as warm, sweet, tonifies the Spleen and Kidney, tonifies Qi and warms the interior.

According to Chinese medicine, Miso is neutral to cool, sweet and salty in nature, promotes Blood circulation and regulates the water passageways, detoxifies, nourishes Yin and tonifies the Spleen and Kidney.

Eating the vegetables and fruits that ripen in Autumn helps the body transition into the season and stay healthy. Because the Qi is seen to go downwards and return to the earth in Autumn, root vegetables and winter squashes that lie on the earth and absorb the sun’s energy over the summer are particularly good. Winter squashes include butternut, pumpkin, acorn and Kabucha squash, any of which would be a good choice for this nutrient dense soup.