For Heat Build-up, Try Gui Ling Gao
Gui Ling Gao is very familiar to people in southern China, especially Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, but less known in the north. Although canned versions are now available in northern supermarkets, most people don’t know how to eat it or what benefits it provides.
Actually, Gui Ling Gao offers many benefits. Made from multiple herbal ingredients, it has long been consumed as a medicinal food. It promotes metabolism, clears heat, reduces internal fire, moistens the lungs, stops coughing, beautifies skin, and nourishes yin and kidneys. It can improve symptoms of sore throat, hemorrhoids, heat rash, and constipation. Modern nutritional studies reveal Gui Ling Gao contains various active polysaccharides and amino acids, featuring low calories, low fat, and low cholesterol, helping regulate blood lipids and glucose.
Gui Ling Gao appears black with slight transparency. Originating from Wuzhou, Guangxi, it is primarily made from softshell turtle and talc, supplemented with licorice, red dates, mulberry leaves, honeysuckle, honey, and chrysanthemum, then slowly simmered for a long time into a health food. Traditionally, Guangdong teahouses would keep turtles outside to attract customers. Nowadays, most commercial Gui Ling Gao uses turtle gel instead of wild softshell turtles or fresh tortoise shells, or grinds turtle shell into powder and combines it with talc and dozens of other herbs for simmering.
Guangdong has a humid, hot climate with warm winters and hot summers, so residents favor cooling and detoxifying foods like Gui Ling Gao. Although northern regions lack southern humidity and heat, consuming fried or spicy foods can still lead to internal heat. Eating Gui Ling Gao appropriately helps eliminate accumulated heat and relieve throat pain and colds caused by seasonal changes.
Gui Ling Gao comes in over ten flavors, with plain and milk tea being the most popular. Plain Gui Ling Gao is slightly bitter; adding honey syrup, coconut milk, condensed milk, or fruit greatly improves taste. To consume Gui Ling Gao powder, mix with warm water into a paste, then pour in boiling water, cool down, and add honey, sugar, or condensed milk. It tastes better when chilled in summer, but pregnant women should avoid excessive intake.