Ingredient Name: Chinese mushrooms (dried) also known as black mushrooms or Chinese black mushrooms or shiitake Traditional Chinese Name: 冬菇 (dōng gū) What is this? An edible type of food common to East Asia The dried versions are frequently speckled with a round top and an end stump The fresh versions (also known as… Continue reading Chinese Mushrooms
Category: Additives
Seaweed
Ingredient Name: Seaweed sometimes also known as kelp Traditional Chinese Name: 海藻 (hǎi zǎo) Edible Name: 紫菜 (Zicai) What is this? A type of marine algae that grows in the ocean (salt water and light required) Seaweed resembles and looks like plants For soups, seaweed are dried sheets of Porphyra (a type of red algae used… Continue reading Seaweed
Sichuan Pepper
Ingredient Name: Sichuan pepper or aniseed pepper or chinese pepper Traditional Chinese Name: 花椒 (huājiāo) What is this? Sichuan pepper is the outer pod of a tiny fruit (with the seed discarded) Despite the name, it is not related to black pepper or chili peppers It is very aromatic, woody, slightly spicy and has very slighty… Continue reading Sichuan Pepper
Star Anise
Ingredient Name: Star Anise Traditional Chinese Name: 八角 (bā jiǎo) What is this? Star anise is a star-shaped spice commonly used in Asian cooking Also known as illicium verum, it is a star shaped fruit from an evergreen tree that is native to China and harvested from March to May It is very popular and… Continue reading Star Anise
Snow Fungus
Ingredient Name: Snow Fungus Traditional Chinese Name: 雪耳 (xuě ěr) What is this? Snow fungus is also known as white tree ear fungus and silver ear Similar to wood ear, but white and translucent Good quality snow fungus is a pale, yellow-white colour Snow fungus is tasteless and, when cooked, it becomes a jelly-like substance It… Continue reading Snow Fungus
Tofu
Ingredient Name: Fresh Tofu or Bean Curd Traditional Chinese Name: 豆腐(dòu fu) What is this? Tofu is made from soybeans It is coagulated soy milk that is cut into blocks Tofu is available fresh or processed or pre-cooked It is a food or Chinese origin Tofu can be as steamed, stewed, fried, braised, fermented, made in… Continue reading Tofu
Wolfberries (Dried)
Ingredient Name: Wolfberry (also known as goji berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, red medlar or matrimony vine) Traditional Chinese Name: 杞子(gǒuqǐzi) This ingredient is also a must have in your soup pantry. It is used in soups, stews, porridge, sweet soups, teas and a variety of Chinese dishes. My mom will… Continue reading Wolfberries (Dried)
Hawthorn (Dried)
Ingredient Name: Chinese Hawthorn Fruit (Dried) also known as Crataegus Traditional Chinese Name: 山楂 (shānzhā) My mom is a big fan of drinking this as a sweet soup. The Chinese also drink this by the bucket load while doing hot pot as it relieves heatiness and helps with digestion. My children love to… Continue reading Hawthorn (Dried)
Lotus Seeds
Ingredient Name: Lotus Seeds Traditional Chinese Name: 蓮子(lián zi) What is this? Dried lotus seeds (also known as lotus nuts) are the interior of the lotus plant There are two types of commercial lotus seeds: Brown peel (pictured above) or white (pictured below) They are usually cored or split in half in order to remove… Continue reading Lotus Seeds
Tangerine Peels (Dried)
Ingredient Name: Dried Tangerine Peels Traditional Chinese Name: 陳皮 (chen pí) What is this? The aged and/or dried skin of tangerines or mandarin oranges They come in a variety of colours and sizes depending on the original peel In its raw form, it is relatively pungent and bitter in taste A small amount (a piece with a radius… Continue reading Tangerine Peels (Dried)