TONIC SOUPS FOR VITALITY
By Choong Su Yin
Publisher: Seashore

Herbal soups are central to the Chinese diet, and are essential for maintaining good health. It is rooted in the philosophy that food is like medicine, and that prevention is better than cure.

The author’s grandfather was a Chinese doctor, and her mother learnt how to use Chinese herbs to boil nourishing soups for the family. Tonic Soups for Vitality is a compilation of soup recipes that have kept author Choong Su Yin’s family in good health, and diseases at bay for generations.

The book begins with an extensive introduction of common herbs and ingredients used in Chinese soups, with an accompanying photograph and descriptions of their functions.

The chapter on secret to making soups is a must-read, even if you regularly make Chinese soups. Choong is meticulous about preparing soup; from the temperature of the water used to the order for adding ingredients. There are even instructions on when to drink soup. You are supposed to drink soup before a meal if you want to be slim and healthy.

The recipes are divided into three categories, with their specific benefits listed at the top of each page. The best thing about making soup is that the preparations are not so hard or complex, but involves mostly putting all the ingredients into a pot and leaving it to boil and boil.

This is also a bilingual book, so you could bring this book to a Chinese medical hall and point to the list of ingredients – if you are not literate in Chinese. On the other hand, the translation of this book from Chinese to English is not exactly top notch. So, you’ll understand the contents well enough, but the awkward sentence construction and occasional grammatical errors do become annoying.

Still, if you are looking for a cookbook to learn about Chinese herbal soups, this book is not too bad. It does not make for the most captivating read, but the information is reliable and the instructions clear.

Visit hungryc.wordpress.com for soup recipes.