Chenpi Pork Rib Soup

By jackTao / Oct 12, 2025 / 90 min /
A bowl of clear Chenpi pork rib soup with herbs

Ingredients

Serving size

Main Ingredients

  • 4-5 pieces pork ribs (can substitute with pork bones)
  • 1 section chenpi (aged tangerine peel, 8-20 years old recommended) - use 1 section from a 3-section piece

Herbal Ingredients

  • 9 slices American ginseng (also called Panax quinquefolius)
  • 6 pieces dendrobium (shi hu)
  • 5 slices Solomon's seal (yu zhu)
  • 7 pieces ophiopogon (mai dong)

Seasoning

  • 5 g salt

Instructions

  • 1
  • 2

Step 1 of 2

Prepare Ingredients

  • Blanch the pork ribs in hot water to remove blood and impurities. Drain and set aside.
  • Rinse the chenpi (tangerine peel), American ginseng, dendrobium, Solomon's seal, and ophiopogon thoroughly with clean water.
  • Clean the double-boiler pot.

Step 2 of 2

Assemble and Cook

  • Open the double-boiler pot and place the pork ribs at the bottom.
  • Add the chenpi, ophiopogon, Solomon's seal, dendrobium, and American ginseng on top of the ribs.
  • Pour hot water into the inner pot, but do not fill completely - leave some space at the top.
  • Fill the outer chamber of the double-boiler with water and steam for 1.5 hours.
  • Add salt to taste, and serve hot.

Notes

  • ⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: The double-boiler pot gets extremely hot. Be careful when handling to avoid burns or dropping the pot.
  • This recipe makes 1 serving. Scale up the ingredients proportionally for more servings.
  • Cantonese slow-cooked soups emphasize quality ingredients and proper cooking time. As long as you prepare the ingredients well and cook for the right duration, success is guaranteed!
  • Chenpi (aged tangerine peel) is a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and Cantonese cuisine. The older the chenpi, the more medicinal properties it contains.
  • A double-boiler (炖盅) is recommended for this recipe as it allows gentle steaming without direct heat, preserving the nutrients and creating a clear, refined broth.
  • American ginseng helps nourish yin and clear heat, making this soup particularly suitable for those who stay up late or feel fatigued.
  • This soup is known for its health benefits: it tonifies the spleen and stomach, moistens the lungs, and soothes the throat.
  • The soup can be prepared in advance and reheated, but is best enjoyed fresh and hot.
SoupCantoneseHealthyHerbalPork