Yao Shan Ingredients You Can Find at Any Asian Grocery Store

Last updated: April 2026

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. The ingredients described below are traditional Chinese food therapy items and should not replace professional medical treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed TCM practitioner before using medicinal herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a chronic condition.

Quick Answer

At least 25 common yao shan ingredients are readily available at major Asian grocery chains like H Mart, 99 Ranch Market, T&T Supermarket, and most Chinese/Vietnamese markets across North America
Of China's 106 officially recognized food-medicine dual-use substances, roughly half can be found in the dried goods aisle of a typical Asian supermarket (translated from Chinese, China Non-Prescription Drug Association, 2024)
Total startup cost for a beginner's yao shan pantry is $30–50 USD — most dried herbs and foods cost $3–10 per bag and last weeks to months
You don't need a TCM pharmacy for basic yao shan cooking — the ingredient overlap between Chinese home cooking and entry-level food therapy is massive

How to Navigate the Dried Goods Aisle

Every Asian grocery store worth its name has a dried goods section. It might be a full aisle, a dedicated wall, or a few shelves near the rice and grains. This is where 80% of your yao shan ingredients live.

The packaging is almost always in Chinese, sometimes with minimal English. That's fine — you're about to learn the characters that matter.

A few navigation tips:

Look for the section labeled 干货 (gānhuò, "dry goods") or 药材 (yàocái, "medicinal ingredients")
Larger stores like 99 Ranch and H Mart often have a dedicated Chinese herbal medicine corner with pre-packaged soup kits
Pre-mixed soup herb packets (汤料包, tāngliào bāo) are a cheat code — they contain 3–5 herbs portioned for one pot of soup, with instructions on the package
Prices are dramatically lower at Asian groceries vs. health food stores — goji berries that cost $15 at Whole Foods are $4–6 at 99 Ranch for the same quantity

The Complete Shopping List: 25 Yao Shan Ingredients by Store Section

Dried Goods Aisle (干货区)

1. Goji Berries (枸杞子, Gǒuqǐ Zǐ)

Latin: Lycium barbarum
Look for: Small red-orange dried berries, usually in clear bags
Price range: $4–8 / 100–200g bag
TCM function: Nourish Liver and Kidney, benefit the eyes, tonify yin
How to use: Toss into any soup, tea, or porridge. 10–15g (~0.4–0.5 oz) per serving.
Quality tip: Bright red-orange with slight sweetness. Avoid overly bright red (may be sulfur-treated) or dark, clumpy berries (too old).
Pairs well with: Chrysanthemum tea, chicken soup, congee

2. Red Dates / Jujubes (红枣/大枣, Hóng Zǎo)

Latin: Ziziphus jujuba
Look for: Dark red wrinkled fruits, various sizes. Larger (新疆大枣, Xinjiang dates) are plumper and sweeter.
Price range: $3–7 / 200–500g bag
TCM function: Tonify qi, nourish blood, calm the spirit, harmonize other herbs
How to use: 3–8 pieces per recipe. Pit them before adding to soups for cleaner broth. Slice for tea.
Quality tip: Should be dark reddish-brown, dry but slightly pliable, and smell sweet. Hard, very dark dates are overaged.

3. Dried Longan (龙眼肉/桂圆, Guìyuán)

Latin: Dimocarpus longan
Look for: Small, tan-brown dried fruits, sometimes shelled (cheaper) or unshelled (longer shelf life)
Price range: $5–10 / 200–400g bag
TCM function: Nourish blood, calm the spirit, benefit the Heart and Spleen
How to use: 10–15g (~0.4–0.5 oz) in teas, sweet soups, and porridge. Adds natural sweetness.
Note: Warm in nature — avoid if you tend to run hot or have heat signs. Great for people who feel cold and anxious.

4. Lotus Seeds (莲子, Lián Zǐ)

Latin: Nelumbo nucifera
Look for: Pale white/cream-colored round seeds. Come split or whole, with or without the green embryo (莲子芯).
Price range: $4–8 / 200–300g bag
TCM function: Strengthen the Spleen, stop diarrhea, calm the Heart, improve sleep
How to use: Soak 1–2 hours before cooking. 15–30g (~0.5–1 oz) in sweet soups, congee, or savory soups.
Tip: The green embryo (莲子芯) inside is bitter but has its own therapeutic use — it clears heart-fire and is sometimes brewed separately as a calming tea.

5. Dried Lily Bulb (百合, Bǎi Hé)

Latin: Lilium brownii
Look for: White, petal-shaped dried slices, usually bagged
Price range: $5–9 / 100–200g bag
TCM function: Moisten the Lung, clear heat, calm the mind, nourish yin
How to use: Soak 20–30 minutes. Add 15–30g (~0.5–1 oz) to sweet soups, stir-fries, or porridge.
Best season: Autumn, when dryness dominates and Lung support is most needed
See our article on autumn TCM foods

6. White Fungus / Snow Fungus (银耳, Yín Ěr)

Latin: Tremella fuciformis
Look for: Pale yellow-white, crinkly, flower-like dried fungus
Price range: $3–6 per piece or small bag
TCM function: Moisten the Lung, nourish yin, benefit the skin, generate fluids
How to use: Soak 30 minutes until fully expanded. Tear into small pieces. Simmer 1.5–2 hours in sweet soup until gelatinous.
Known as: The "poor man's bird's nest" — similar moistening properties at a fraction of the cost
Full guide: white fungus in TCM

7. Dried Chrysanthemum Flowers (菊花, Jú Huā)

Latin: Chrysanthemum morifolium
Look for: Small dried yellow or white flowers, often in bags or boxes
Price range: $3–6 / 50–100g
TCM function: Clear heat, brighten the eyes, calm the Liver, resolve toxins
How to use: Steep 5–8 flowers in hot water for 3–5 minutes. The classic combo is chrysanthemum + goji berries.
Varieties: White chrysanthemum (白菊花, from Hangzhou) is milder; yellow chrysanthemum (黄菊花) is more heat-clearing.

8. Dried Tangerine Peel (陈皮, Chén Pí)

Latin: Citrus reticulata
Look for: Dried dark brown citrus peel strips, sometimes rolled or flat
Price range: $3–8 / 50–100g (aged varieties cost much more)
TCM function: Regulate qi, dry dampness, strengthen the Spleen, reduce phlegm
How to use: 3–6g (~0.1–0.2 oz) per soup. Soak briefly, then add to soups, braises, or sweet desserts.
Age matters: Older peel (3+ years) is more potent and more valued. Guangdong's Xinhui (新会陈皮) is the most prized variety.
Full guide: dried tangerine peel in cooking

9. Job's Tears / Coix Seed (薏苡仁/薏米, Yì Mǐ)

Latin: Coix lacryma-jobi
Look for: White, round, rice-like grains. Often near the rice and grains section.
Price range: $3–5 / 400–500g bag
TCM function: Drain dampness, strengthen the Spleen, clear heat, expel pus
How to use: Soak 4+ hours or overnight. Cook in soups or porridge, 30–50g (~1–1.8 oz) per serving.
Caution: Traditionally contraindicated during pregnancy due to its slippery, descending nature.

10. Black Sesame Seeds (黑芝麻, Hēi Zhīma)

Latin: Sesamum indicum
Look for: Small black seeds, raw or toasted. Also available as pre-ground powder (黑芝麻粉).
Price range: $3–5 / 200–300g bag
TCM function: Nourish Liver and Kidney, benefit the essence and blood, moisten the intestines
How to use: Toast lightly and sprinkle on porridge, blend into sesame paste, or make black sesame soup (黑芝麻糊). 15–30g (~0.5–1 oz) per serving.
Traditionally linked to: Hair health (preventing graying), bone strength, and healthy aging

Produce Section (生鲜区)

11. Fresh Chinese Yam (鲜山药, Shān Yào)

Latin: Dioscorea opposita
Look for: Long, brown-skinned tuber with white flesh. Sometimes labeled "nagaimo" or "Japanese yam" — similar but not identical.
Price range: $3–5 per pound
TCM function: Strengthen Spleen, nourish Lung, benefit Kidney
How to use: Peel (wear gloves — sap irritates skin), slice or dice. Add to soups, stir-fries, or steam plain. About 100–150g (~3.5–5 oz) per serving.
Also available dried (干山药) in the herbs section — use 15–30g per soup.

12. Fresh Ginger (生姜, Shēng Jiāng)

Latin: Zingiber officinale
Look for: You know what ginger looks like. The key TCM distinction is between fresh ginger (生姜, warm) and dried ginger (干姜, hot) — they have different therapeutic functions.
Price range: $2–4 per pound
TCM function: Warm the middle, dispel cold, stop vomiting, resolve phlegm
How to use: 3–5 slices per soup. Ubiquitous in yao shan cooking.
TCM note: Fresh ginger is milder and better for dispersing external cold. Dried ginger is hotter and better for warming the interior. Both are used in yao shan but for different purposes.

13. Fresh Lotus Root (莲藕, Lián Ǒu)

Latin: Nelumbo nucifera
Look for: Long, segmented brown root with holes visible when sliced. Heavy and firm when fresh.
Price range: $3–6 per pound
TCM function: Raw — clears heat, cools blood, generates fluids. Cooked — strengthens Spleen, tonifies blood, stops bleeding.
Interesting: The thermal nature changes with cooking. Raw lotus root is cooling; cooked lotus root becomes warming. This exemplifies how TCM views food preparation as transformative.

14. Winter Melon (冬瓜, Dōng Guā)

Latin: Benincasa hispida
Look for: Large green-skinned melon, often sold in cut wedges
Price range: $0.50–1.50 per pound
TCM function: Clear heat, promote urination, drain dampness, reduce swelling
How to use: Dice into chunks for soup. Combines well with Job's tears for dampness-clearing soups.

15. Chinese Red Bean / Adzuki Bean (赤小豆/红豆, Chì Xiǎo Dòu)

Latin: Vigna angularis
Look for: Small, dark red beans. Not the larger kidney bean.
Price range: $2–4 / 400g bag
TCM function: Drain dampness, reduce swelling, clear heat, detoxify
How to use: Soak overnight. Cook into sweet soup (红豆沙) with dried tangerine peel and rock sugar. Or add to porridge. 30–50g (~1–1.8 oz) per serving.

Refrigerated / Frozen Section

16. Black-Skinned Chicken (乌鸡, Wū Jī)

Latin: Gallus gallus domesticus (Silkie breed)
Look for: Whole frozen chickens with black skin, bones, and meat. Available at Chinese groceries.
Price range: $8–15 per bird
TCM function: Nourish yin, tonify blood, strengthen the Liver and Kidney
How to use: The premium base for yao shan soups. Used extensively in women's health food therapy — postpartum recovery, menstrual support, and general blood-nourishing soups.
See our black chicken herbal soup guide

Spice and Seasoning Aisle

17. Astragalus Root Slices (黄芪片, Huáng Qí)

Latin: Astragalus membranaceus
Look for: Thin, dried yellowish-white root slices, often in bags of 100–200g
Price range: $5–10 / 100–200g bag
TCM function: Tonify qi, raise yang, stabilize the exterior, promote urination, generate flesh
How to use: 15–30g (~0.5–1 oz) per soup. Simmer at least 1.5 hours. Remove slices before serving.
Important: This is the single most used qi-tonifying herb in Chinese food therapy. If you buy one "medicinal" ingredient, make it this one.
Full guide: astragalus in Chinese cooking

18. Codonopsis Root (党参, Dǎng Shēn)

Latin: Codonopsis pilosula
Look for: Dried, wrinkled, brownish root pieces. Sometimes cut into thin slices.
Price range: $6–12 / 100–200g bag
TCM function: Tonify Spleen and Lung qi, nourish blood, generate fluids
How to use: 10–20g (~0.4–0.7 oz) per soup. Often paired with astragalus.
Note: Added to China's official food-medicine dual-use list in 2023, meaning it's now officially approved for food use as well as medicinal (translated from Chinese, Chinabgao).

19. Angelica Sinensis Root (当归, Dāng Guī)

Latin: Angelica sinensis
Look for: Dark brown root slices with a strong, distinctive aroma
Price range: $6–12 / 100–150g bag
TCM function: Tonify blood, activate blood circulation, regulate menstruation, moisten intestines
How to use: 6–12g (~0.2–0.4 oz) per soup. Classic pairing with lamb for winter warming soup.
Caution: Promotes blood movement. Avoid during pregnancy, heavy menstruation, or if taking anticoagulant medications.
Full guide: Angelica in food therapy

20. Solomon's Seal (玉竹, Yù Zhú)

Latin: Polygonatum odoratum
Look for: Thin, flat, pale dried slices
Price range: $5–8 / 100g bag
TCM function: Nourish yin, moisten the Lung, generate fluids
How to use: 10–15g (~0.4–0.5 oz) in soups, especially autumn/winter soups when dryness is a concern. Gentle enough for regular use.

21. Poria / Fu Ling (茯苓, Fú Líng)

Latin: Wolfiporia extensa
Look for: White or pinkish-white dried chunks or slices. Sometimes powdered.
Price range: $4–8 / 100–200g bag
TCM function: Drain dampness, strengthen the Spleen, calm the spirit
How to use: 10–15g (~0.4–0.5 oz) in soups and porridge. Relatively tasteless, which makes it easy to add without affecting flavor.
Famous formula: Four Gentlemen Soup (四君子汤) — poria + Codonopsis + atractylodes + licorice — the foundational qi-tonifying formula.

22. Euryale Seeds / Fox Nuts (芡实, Qiàn Shí)

Latin: Euryale ferox
Look for: Small, round, whitish seeds. Sometimes near lotus seeds.
Price range: $5–10 / 200g bag
TCM function: Strengthen the Spleen, stop diarrhea, benefit the Kidney, consolidate essence
How to use: 15–30g (~0.5–1 oz) in porridge or soup. Often combined with lotus seeds for Spleen support. Soak 1–2 hours before use.

23. Dried Chinese Wolfberry Bark / Lycium Root Bark (地骨皮, Dì Gǔ Pí) Less common but worth noting — this is the root bark of the same plant that produces goji berries. Available at stores with larger herb sections. Used for clearing deficiency heat.

Pre-Mixed Section (汤料包)

24. Pre-Packaged Soup Herb Kits (汤料包, Tāng Liào Bāo)

Look for: Small plastic bags containing a mix of 3–6 dried herbs, often with a label describing the soup's function (e.g., "清热祛湿汤" = "clear heat and drain dampness soup" or "补气养血汤" = "tonify qi and nourish blood soup")
Price range: $2–5 per packet
These are the ultimate beginner shortcut. The herbs are pre-portioned for one pot of soup. Just add meat, water, and simmer. The back of the package usually has instructions.
Common varieties: Four Herb Soup (四物汤), qi-tonifying soup, dampness-clearing soup, lung-moistening soup

25. Rock Sugar (冰糖, Bīng Táng)

Not a medicinal herb, but essential for yao shan desserts and sweet soups
TCM properties: Sweet, neutral. Moistens the Lung, generates fluids.
Preferred over white sugar in yao shan cooking because it's considered gentler on the digestive system
Look for: Clear or yellowish crystalline lumps

Shopping by Constitution Type

Not sure what to buy? Here's a cheat sheet based on the most common TCM body constitutions. Pick the column that best matches your tendency and focus your shopping there.

Constitution	Key Ingredients to Buy	What to Avoid
Qi-Deficient (tired, weak immunity)	Astragalus, Codonopsis, red dates, Chinese yam, chicken	Raw cold foods, excessive salad
Yang-Deficient (always cold)	Dried ginger, lamb, walnuts, cinnamon bark, longan	Cold drinks, raw foods, mung beans
Yin-Deficient (dry, warm, restless)	Lily bulb, white fungus, Solomon's seal, duck, pear	Chili, lamb, dried ginger, fried foods
Phlegm-Damp (heavy, oily skin)	Job's tears, poria, winter melon, dried tangerine peel	Rich meats, dairy, greasy foods
Damp-Heat (oily, acne-prone)	Mung beans, Job's tears, bitter melon, chrysanthemum	Lamb, alcohol, spicy food, fried food
Blood-Stasis (bruise easily)	Angelica, black fungus, red dates, safflower (small amount)	Cold foods that slow circulation

For a detailed breakdown of all 9 constitutions, see our constitution diet guide.

Quality Guide: How to Spot Good vs. Bad Ingredients

Buying herbs at an Asian grocery isn't like buying produce — you can't squeeze them for ripeness. But there are reliable quality indicators.

Goji Berries

Good: Bright red-orange, uniform size, slightly sweet smell, yields slightly when pressed
Bad: Very bright red (possibly sulfur-treated), dark brown/black (too old), sour smell, sticky/clumped
Test: Drop a few in warm water. Quality goji berries float initially, then gradually sink. They should not dye the water intensely red — that suggests artificial coloring.

Astragalus Root

Good: Yellowish-white surface, slightly sweet taste when chewed, fresh herbal smell, slices are thick and firm
Bad: Dark color, musty smell, thin/brittle slices, insect damage holes
Origin matters: Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) and Shanxi (山西) produce the most valued astragalus

Red Dates

Good: Dark reddish-brown, smooth skin without cracks, sweet aroma, flesh is thick relative to pit
Bad: Very dark (overaged), cracked or moldy skin, sour smell, mostly pit with thin flesh
Premium variety: Xinjiang dates (新疆大枣) are consistently larger and sweeter

Dried Tangerine Peel

Good: Dark brown to black (indicating age), aromatic citrus smell, flexible but dry
Bad: Light orange-brown (too young, less than 1 year), brittle, faint smell
Premium: Xinhui (新会) peel from Guangdong. Aged 3+ years is ideal. Some premium aged chen pi sells for hundreds of dollars per pound — but $5–10 bags work fine for everyday yao shan.

White Fungus

Good: Pale yellowish-white, dry and crinkly, slight sweet smell. Expands dramatically when soaked.
Bad: Bright white (may be bleached), damp/soft before soaking, musty smell

Storage Guide

Most dried yao shan ingredients store well, but proper storage extends quality significantly.

Airtight containers — Transfer from original bags to glass jars or zip-lock bags with air squeezed out
Cool, dark, dry place — A kitchen cabinet away from the stove is fine. No direct sunlight.
Refrigerate in humid climates — If you live somewhere humid, goji berries and lotus seeds can mold. Refrigerate them.
Shelf life rules of thumb:
- Goji berries: 12–18 months
- Red dates: 12–18 months
- Astragalus root: 2+ years
- Dried tangerine peel: Improves with age (traditional Chinese herbology values old chen pi)
- White fungus: 12 months
- Lotus seeds: 12–18 months
- Job's tears: 12 months (can go rancid — store airtight)

Online Alternatives When Your Local Store Falls Short

Not everyone lives near a well-stocked Asian grocery. These online options fill the gap:

Amazon — Search for specific herb names. Brands like Greenlike and Dae Han offer common dried herbs. Quality varies; check reviews.
Weee! — Asian grocery delivery service operating in major US metro areas. Good selection of dried goods and herbs.
Sayweee / Yami — Online Asian grocery platforms with dried herb sections
Specialty TCM suppliers — KPC Herbs, Kamwo, Spring Wind Herbs carry higher-quality, professionally sourced herbs. More expensive but more reliable for medicinal use.

Ingredient Interactions: What NOT to Combine

Knowing what to buy is half the equation. Knowing what not to mix together is the other half. Traditional TCM food-herb pairing rules identify combinations that are considered problematic:

Traditional Food-Herb Incompatibilities

According to the Tianjin Municipal Health Commission, certain food-herb combinations have been traditionally avoided (translated from Chinese, Tianjin Health Commission):

Ginseng (人参) and radish (萝卜): Ginseng tonifies qi; radish descends and disperses qi. They work in opposite directions. If you're taking ginseng in any form, avoid large amounts of raw radish.
Coptis (黄连) and pork: Traditional incompatibility. Coptis is rarely used in home yao shan, but worth knowing.
Honey (蜂蜜) and raw scallions (生葱): Traditional pairing prohibition. Avoid in the same dish.
Strong tea and herbal soups: Tea tannins can bind with herbal compounds and reduce absorption. Don't drink strong black or green tea within 2 hours of a yao shan meal.

Practical Temperature Conflicts

Beyond formal incompatibilities, avoid combining strongly warming and strongly cooling ingredients in the same dish. A soup with both lamb (very warm) and mung beans (very cold) creates what TCM calls "temperature confusion" — the body receives contradictory signals. Each yao shan formula should have a coherent thermal direction: warming, cooling, or neutral.

This doesn't mean every ingredient must be the same temperature. Small amounts of opposite-temperature ingredients are used intentionally as moderators (e.g., a piece of cooling dried tangerine peel in a warming lamb soup). But the dominant direction should be clear.

5 Starter Recipes Using Only Grocery Store Ingredients

Recipe 1: Astragalus Chicken Soup (黄芪炖鸡)

The foundational qi-tonifying yao shan soup. See our full astragalus chicken soup recipe.

Ingredients: Chicken (500g / 1.1 lbs), astragalus slices (30g / 1 oz), red dates (8 pcs), goji berries (10g / 0.4 oz), ginger (3 slices), water (1.5L / 6 cups), salt

Method: Blanch chicken. Add chicken, astragalus, dates, ginger to pot. Simmer 2 hours. Add goji berries last 10 minutes. Salt to taste.

Recipe 2: Four-Ingredient Sweet Soup (四宝糖水)

Ingredients: Lotus seeds (30g / 1 oz, soaked), lily bulb (20g / 0.7 oz, soaked), white fungus (1 piece, soaked and torn), red dates (5 pcs), rock sugar to taste, water (800ml / 3.4 cups)

Method: Simmer white fungus 1 hour. Add lotus seeds and dates, cook 30 min. Add lily bulb, cook 15 min. Add rock sugar. Serve warm.

Recipe 3: Job's Tears and Red Bean Soup (薏米红豆汤)

Ingredients: Job's tears (50g / 1.8 oz, soaked overnight), adzuki beans (50g / 1.8 oz, soaked overnight), dried tangerine peel (1 small piece), rock sugar (optional), water (1L / 4 cups)

Method: Simmer Job's tears and adzuki beans with tangerine peel for 1–1.5 hours until soft. Sweeten if desired. Serve warm. Great for clearing dampness.

Recipe 4: Chinese Yam and Pork Rib Soup (山药排骨汤)

Ingredients: Pork ribs (400g / 14 oz), fresh Chinese yam (150g / 5 oz, peeled and cut), goji berries (10g / 0.4 oz), ginger (3 slices), water (1.5L / 6 cups), salt

Method: Blanch ribs. Add ribs, ginger to pot. Simmer 1 hour. Add Chinese yam, cook 30 min. Add goji berries last 5 min. Salt to taste. See our Chinese yam rib soup recipe.

Recipe 5: Chrysanthemum Goji Berry Tea (菊花枸杞茶)

Ingredients: Dried chrysanthemum flowers (8–10), goji berries (10g / 0.4 oz), hot water (300ml / 1.3 cups), honey (optional)

Method: Steep chrysanthemum in hot water 3 min. Add goji berries. Wait 5 min. Add honey if desired. Drink warm. The most popular daily yao shan tea in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are yao shan herbs at Asian grocery stores safe to eat?

The herbs and foods commonly sold at Asian grocery stores — goji berries, red dates, astragalus, lotus seeds, etc. — are the same ingredients used in Chinese home cooking for centuries. Items on China's official 106-item food-medicine dual-use list are approved for use in food. That said, quality varies by supplier. Buy from reputable stores, check for signs of mold or pest damage, and follow the quality guide above.

How do I know the Chinese names if I don't read Chinese?

Many packages include English names or at least the pinyin (romanized Chinese) transliteration. This article includes both Chinese characters and pinyin for each ingredient. You can also photograph the Chinese characters from this article and show them to store staff — they'll point you to the right shelf.

Can I buy these ingredients at non-Asian stores?

Some items are crossing over. Goji berries are now at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Target. Red dates appear occasionally at specialty stores. But the full range of yao shan ingredients — especially astragalus, Codonopsis, Angelica, lotus seeds, and dried lily bulb — still requires an Asian grocery store or online ordering.

How much should I spend to get started?

A beginner's yao shan pantry costs $30–50 USD and lasts weeks to months. Here's a sample first purchase: goji berries ($5), red dates ($4), dried longan ($6), lotus seeds ($5), astragalus slices ($7), chrysanthemum flowers ($4), rock sugar ($3). Total: about $34. Each bag contains enough for 5–15 batches of soup or tea.

What are those pre-packaged soup herb kits (汤料包)?

These are pre-portioned combinations of 3–6 dried herbs designed for one pot of soup. They're labeled with the soup's therapeutic function (e.g., "moistening the lung," "clearing dampness," "nourishing blood"). They cost $2–5 each and are the easiest way to try yao shan without buying individual herbs. Just add chicken or pork ribs, water, and simmer. The back of the package has instructions — scan a photo with Google Translate if needed.

Sources

China Non-Prescription Drug Association — 药食同源目录 (2024) (Official food-medicine dual-use substance directory)
Baidu Baike — 药膳 (Yao shan definitions and herb descriptions)
Chinabgao — 药膳行业分析 2024 (Market data and industry analysis)
Zhihu — 中医药膳知识 (TCM herb properties and usage)
The Paper — 药膳专家解读 (Expert commentary on yao shan herbs)
Huaxia.com — 药膳的分类 (Classification of yao shan types)
Beijing TCM Bureau — 药膳注意事项 (Yao shan guidelines and dosage principles)
A+ Medical Encyclopedia — 药膳 (Ingredient reference)
China Rehabilitation Research Center — 药膳禁忌 (Contraindications)
Dealmoon — 亚洲超市购物清单 (Asian grocery shopping reference)

— The Yao Shan Guide Team