Easy Chinese Herbal Soup Bases for Beginners

A Step-by-Step Very Easy To Understand System for Building TCM-Inspired Soup Foundations (Stovetop, Slow Cooker, Instant Pot)

Reviewed: February 17, 2026
Author: Sarah Johnson, Family-Owned Since 1994 — 1st Chinese Herbs

Quick Summary On Herbal Soup Recipes

Chinese herbal soups are one of the easiest ways to use Traditional Chinese Medicine–inspired herbs at home because soup is forgiving. This guide gives you:

• A repeatable Soup Base Formula

• A simple Herb Timing Chart (so your soup doesn’t get bitter)

• 3 beginner bases (chicken + vegetarian + bone broth)

• Stovetop, slow cooker, and Instant Pot instructions

• A real “choose-your-base” quiz

• Storage/freezing tips you’ll actually use

Educational content only. Herbs and foods support general wellness. If you’re pregnant/nursing, on medications, or managing a condition, check with a qualified practitioner.

1) What Is a Chinese Herbal Soup Base?

A Chinese herbal soup base is a foundational broth made by simmering a small set of herbs (often 2–6) with aromatics like ginger and a protein or mushroom base. You can drink it as broth or use it as the foundation for noodles, rice bowls, vegetables, and weekly meal prep.

What makes it “beginner-friendly” is that soup:

• spreads herbal flavor across a full meal (less intense than concentrated decoctions)

• is easy to adjust if it’s too strong (dilute + add food ingredients)

• is repeatable, which helps people build a sustainable routine

2) The Beginner Soup Base Formula (Use This Every Time)

The Formula (Memorize This)

Water: 8–12 cups
Base: chicken pieces OR mushrooms/tofu OR bones/carcass
Aromatics: ginger (almost always) + optional garlic/scallion
Herbs: 2–6 total (start with 2–3 if you’re new)
Heat: bring to boil → reduce to gentle simmer
Salt: add at the end

The “Too Strong?” Fix (Guaranteed)

If your soup tastes too medicinal:

1. remove the strongest herb pieces

2. add more water

3. add more “food” ingredients (mushrooms, carrots, daikon, dates)

3) Herb Timing Chart

Timing is the difference between “cozy nourishing broth” and “why does this taste like a forest floor?”

Herb Timing Chart (Simple Rule)

4) Starter Herbs for Beginners 

Beginner Soup Starter Kit (Most Reusable)

• Goji berries (Gou Qi Zi) – mild, slightly sweet

• Red dates  / jujube (Da Zao / Hong Zao) – rounds flavor

• Dried tangerine peel (Chen Pi ) – aromatic comfort for heavy meals

• Ginger Root– kitchen staple that pairs with everything

• Optional next step: Codonopsis (Dang Shen) or Astragalus (Huang Qi) for deeper “traditional soup base” style

5) Three Easy Chinese Herbal Soup Bases (Beginner Recipes)

Base #1: Everyday Ginger + Goji Chicken Soup Base

Flavor: mild, comforting, easy weekly rotation

Ingredients

• chicken pieces (or whole chicken cut up)

• 8–12 cups water

• 4–8 slices ginger

• 6–10 red dates (optional but recommended)

• 1–2 Tbsp goji berries (add late)

• salt to taste (end)

Steps

1. Optional: blanch chicken 3–5 minutes, discard water, rinse pot (cleaner broth).

2. Add chicken + water + ginger. Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce to a gentle simmer 60–90 minutes.

4. Add red dates for the last 20–30 minutes (optional).

5. Add goji berries for the last 10 minutes.

6. Salt at the end.

Shop this soup base: Goji berries • Red dates • Ginger Root

Base #2: Vegetarian Mushroom + Chen Pi Broth

Flavor: savory, aromatic, not “thin”

Ingredients

• 1–2 cups mushrooms (shiitake + cremini)

• 8–10 cups water

• 3–6g Chen Pi (start small)

• 3–6 slices ginger

• optional: a few red dates

• salt to taste (end)

Steps

1. Add mushrooms + water + ginger + Chen Pi.

2. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently 45–60 minutes.

3. Remove Chen Pi if the aroma gets too strong (you can always add back).

4. Add tofu + greens near the end if desired.

5. Salt at the end.

Shop this soup base: Chen Pi • Mushrooms • Red dates

Base #3: Batch Bone Broth + Herbal Base 

Flavor: rich foundation you can freeze and use all month

Ingredients

• bones/carcass (chicken or mixed)

• water to cover

• ginger slices

• optional: red dates + goji berries (late)

• optional: a small piece of Chen Pi (mid)

Steps

1. Add bones + water + ginger.

2. Simmer low and steady (see cooking methods below).

3. Strain, cool, portion, and freeze.

Shop this soup base: Goji berries • Red dates • Ginger Root

6) How to Cook It (Stovetop, Slow Cooker, Instant Pot)

Stovetop (Best Flavor Control)

• Bring to boil → reduce to gentle simmer

• Chicken base: 60–90 minutes

• Bone broth: 6–12 hours

• Add goji berries last 10 minutes

Slow Cooker (Easiest “Set It and Forget It”)

• Chicken base: LOW 6–8 hours (or HIGH 3–4)

• Bone broth: LOW 10–14 hours

• Add goji berries in the last 20–30 minutes

Instant Pot (Fastest)

• Chicken base: 25–35 minutes + natural release

• Bone broth: 90–120 minutes + natural release

• Add goji berries after pressure cooking; steep 10 minutes in hot broth

7) Storage + Freezing

• Fridge: 3–4 days (covered)

• Freezer: 2–3 months (2-cup containers are ideal)

• Pro move: freeze in silicone cubes for quick portions

Label idea: “Base #1 Chicken + Goji — Current date”

8) Real Quiz 

Quiz: What Soup Base Should You Start With?

Pick the option that feels most true today:

1. I want a weekly base that’s simple and comforting.

2. I want vegetarian but still flavorful and satisfying.

3. I want a batch base I can freeze and use fast.

Results

• Mostly (1) → Start with Base #1 Chicken + Goji

• Mostly (2) → Start with Base #2 Mushroom + Chen Pi

• Mostly (3) → Start with Base #3 Bone Broth BaseQuick Soup Base Quiz

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