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PANguin

Winter · from 5 Jan

Minor Cold

小寒

Warm Spleen and Kidneys, dispel cold.

Next: Major Cold on 20 Jan — 15 days

Tailor to a constitution

Rice wine braised quail
Minor Cold · Dinner · Yang Deficiency

Rice wine braised quail

Small quails slowly braised in yellow rice wine with ginger — fragrant and deeply warming.

  • 55 min
  • Serves 2
  • Braise
  • Medium
WarmingWarms yangBoosts qi

Why it suits you: Minor Cold is bitterly cold and yang-deficient people have icy hands and feet. Quail is warming and rice wine with ginger moves yang and drives out cold.

Method

Prep 15 min · Cook 40 min
  1. 1Rinse and dry the quails and marinate in soy sauce for 15 minutes.
  2. 2Fry the ginger in a claypot and brown the quails all over.
  3. 3Add the wine, dates and rock sugar, cover and cook on low for 30 minutes.
  4. 4Turn once halfway, then reduce the sauce on high and scatter with spring onion.

Cautions

  • Contains alcohol — take care in pregnancy and for children.

Chef's tips

  • Browning the skin first removes any gamey smell.

The TCM view

Quail is sweet and neutral, strengthening qi; rice wine is sweet, pungent and warm; ginger disperses cold; dates support the middle.

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Seasonal principle

One of the coldest periods. Focus on warming the Kidneys and strengthening the Spleen to maintain energy. Consume hearty, mixed-grain porridges (like Laba congee) to provide sustained warmth and nutrition. Avoid cold drinks and raw foods entirely during this deep freeze.

In season now

In season around Minor Cold: Glutinous Rice, Red Bean, Peanut, Chestnut, Pork Ribs

Tap an ingredient for its nature, uses and nutrition.

Yang Deficiency

Feels the cold, with cold hands and feet

Enjoy: Fresh ginger · Lamb · Chinese chives · Walnuts and chestnuts · Longan

Go easy: Iced drinks · Cooling foods like watermelon and bitter melon · Too much green tea or herbal "cooling" tea

Not sure of your constitution?

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Based on traditional Chinese medicine for general wellness education — not a medical diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, are severe or unusual, please see a doctor or registered Chinese medicine practitioner.