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Poria fungus fit for an empress

Poria fungus or 茯苓 (fu ling) is derived from poria cocos that thrives on the roots of the masson pine tree or the Japanese red pine.

It is shaped like a sweet potato with a brownish-black skin and white or pink flesh.

Poria is usually sold as dried white or pink slices and in this form it is known as 茯苓 (fu ling) in chinese. It is also known as indian bread although I have no idea why. It looks nothing like an indian chapati or roti naan.

fu ling

Poria fungus contains a large amount of polysaccharide substances which helps to regulate the functions of the immune system. It is good for the elderly and patients with a weak constitution or suffering from chronic illnesses.

Poria has always been regarded as a nourishing food well-liked by the chinese people. For example, poria pastry used to be Empress Dowager 慈禧 Ci Xi's favorite snack.

According to legend, the infamous Empress Dowager suffered from weak health and a poor appetite. The imperial chefs made it a point to use medicinal herbs that could invigorate the spleen and promote appetite in their cooking. They discovered poria and made thin crepes or filled pancakes with finely ground poria powder, adding other ingredients like fine flour, pine nuts, peach kernels, sweet osmanthus flowers and honey. The Empress Dowager loved these poria pastry so much that she used them as a form of reward for court officials.

fu-ling
Photo source: www.cqjj.net

For those unfamiliar with modern chinese history, Empress Dowager 慈禧 (Ci Xi) ruled China for a better half of the 19th century because her son, Emperor 同治 (Tong Zhi) and the subsequent Emperor 光绪 (Guang Xu) ascended the throne when they were very young. This period was commonly referred to as 垂帘听政 (chui lian ting zheng). Translated literally as Ruling behind the curtains. She was resistant to reforms and did not hesitate to squash and kill the opposition. No wonder she had weak nerves.

On a more poetic and literary note, poria is mentioned in one of the most well-known classical literary works in China, A Dream of Red Mansions, 红楼梦 (hong lou meng) as a health and beauty product. Poria cream, mentioned in chapter 60 is mixed with milk or boiled water and drank every morning to promote good health. The cream is also used as a facial mask by the female characters in the story to achieve beautiful white and smooth complexion.

Poria fungus is also mentioned in traditional chinese medicine. It is considered neutral in nature with both a sweet and light flavour. It invigorates the spleen, promote diuresis and tranquilises the mind.

The following video introduces 茯苓 (fu ling), some interesting stories behind it, its benefits and some recipes. Unfortunately, it is in mandarin.


Recipes

I have 6 recipes here featuring poria as a key ingredient. Try them and let me know how you like them.


Cream of poria

This can be included as a dessert in the diet of a patient weakened by chronic illnesses. See the video above from around 3.05min to 3.39min on how to make this.

100g poria fungus
50g fresh milk
Honey to taste
  1. Steep the white poria in cold water for 2 hours
  2. Steam for 30 minutes
  3. Slice the steamed poria and place in a blender with the milk
  4. Blend until the poria is completely dissolved and the mixture has no grainy texture
  5. Place the blended poria in a pot and bring to a boil
  6. Add honey and stir well

Recipe link: Cream of Poria


Indian bread with lily porridge

This is a healthy rice porridge suitable for patients with weak spleen functions, insomnia or obesity brought on by chronic illnesses.

15g poria fungus
15 lily bulbs
50g white rice
  1. Grind the indian bread into powder and set aside
  2. Wash the lily bulbs and rice, then soak them in a pot of cold water for 30 minutes
  3. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot.
  4. Put the indian bread (powder) in the pot and bring to a boil
  5. Simmer over low heat until the porridge is cooked.

Recipe link: Indian bread with lily porridge


Indian bread with codonopsis root porridge

This is a rice porridge for patients with feelings of general weakness and fatigue, poor appetite, stomach reflux or vomiting and loose stools.

15g codonopsis root
15g poria fungus
100g white rice
fresh ginger to taste
  1. Grind the poria into powder form
  2. Slice the fresh ginger
  3. Wash the rice and soak the codonopsis root in a pot of cold water for 30-60 minutes
  4. Put the poria powder and fresh ginger slices in the pot
  5. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil
  6. Simmer over low heat to make porridge
  7. When the porridge is ready, remove the codonopsis root and serve

Recipe link: Poria with codonopsis root porridge


Indian bread and red date porridge

This is a suitable rice recipe for patients suffering from palpitation and restlessness, dizziness and fatigue brought on by chronic illnesses.

15g poria fungus
10-20 pitted red dates
50g white rice
brown sugar to taste
  1. Grind the poria into powder
  2. Wash the pitted red dates and soak them in cold water for 30 minutes
  3. Wash the rice thoroughly
  4. Place the rice in a pot together with the red dates (including the water used to soak them) and the Indian bread powder
  5. Add an appropriate amount of water and cook them together to make porridge.
  6. When the porridge is cooked, add brown sugar to enhance the taste and serve.

Recipe link: Indian bread with red date congee


Indian bread and euryale seed porridge

This is a rice congee recipe for people with weak kidney functions such as urinary incontinence and turbid urine.

15g poria fungus
15g euryale seed
50g white rice
rock sugar to taste
  1. Wash the rice thoroughly
  2. Grind the euryale seed and indian bread into powder form
  3. Place the rice and powder into a pot
  4. Add an appropriate amount of water and cook them together to make porridge
  5. When the porridge is cooked, add rock sugar to enhance the taste and serve

Recipe link: Indian bread and euryale seed porridge


Indian bread tonic soup

This is a tonic soup suitable for everyone, especially during the winter months.

15g poria fungus
15g chinese yam
15g dried longan
15g solomon seal
10g lotus seeds
10g euryale seeds
200-300g lean pork
salt to taste
1 litre water
  1. Wash the lean meat and chop into pieces and parboil
  2. Wash the medicinal herbs, put them in a earthern pot and soak in cold water for 30-60 minutes
  3. Add the water and bring to a boil
  4. Next, add the lean meat and simmer over low heat for 1 hour
  5. Add salt to taste

Recipe link: Indian bread tonic soup






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