For Heatiness, Try Gui Ling Gao
Gui Ling Gao is very familiar to people in southern China, especially Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, but is less known in the north. Although canned versions are now available in northern supermarkets, most people still don’t know how to eat it or what benefits it provides.
In fact, Gui Ling Gao offers many benefits. Made from multiple herbal ingredients, it has long been consumed as a medicinal dish. It promotes metabolism, clears heat, soothes the lungs, stops coughing, beautifies skin, and nourishes yin and kidneys. It also helps improve conditions like 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 blood sugar.
Gui Ling Gao appears black with slight transparency. Originating from Wuzhou, Guangxi, it is primarily made from soft-shelled turtle and Chinese yam, supplemented with licorice, red dates, mulberry leaves, honeysuckle, honey, and chrysanthemum, slowly simmered for a long time into a health food. Traditionally, Guangdong teahouses would keep turtles outside to attract customers. Nowadays, most Gui Ling Gao uses turtle gelatin instead of wild soft-shelled turtles or fresh turtle shells, or grinds turtle shell into powder and combines it with Chinese yam and dozens of other herbs for prolonged simmering.
Guangdong has a humid, warm climate with hot summers and mild winters, so locals emphasize clearing heat and detoxifying, eliminating dampness and heat—making Gui Ling Gao a staple. Though northern regions lack the humidity and heat of the south, consuming fried or spicy foods can still lead to heatiness. Eating Gui Ling Gao appropriately helps eliminate internal heat, relieving throat pain and colds caused by climate changes.
Gui Ling Gao comes in over ten flavors; the most popular are original and milk tea. The original flavor is slightly bitter; mixing with honey, coconut milk, condensed milk, or fruit greatly improves taste. To prepare Gui Ling Powder, mix with warm water into a paste, pour boiling water over it, cool down, then add honey, sugar, or condensed milk.
During hot weather, you can prepare more and chill in the refrigerator—very tasty. However, pregnant women should avoid excessive consumption.