July 2, 2015

Sibu Tales : Smelly Root Soup



Actually the older Sibu Foochows who were China born loved Chow Yi Char /smelly root/wild pepper roots soup which they believed could really replenish their energy.No photo description available.

The roots were not only able  to give good health but to "expel" the tiredness and exhaustion from the body. My grandfather, Tiong Kung Ping, worked very hard at clearing land and building houses in the first decade of settling in Sibu. He was also very good with machinery.

Like his peers in Sibu, he did have pleasure in drinking this soup.  His father, my great grandfather, Tiong King Kee was knowledgeable in the finding of herbs and health roots in the high mountains of Wun Chieh, so as a result the family became very familiar with all the local herbs and medicinal roots. Today in Wun Chieh, my uncles and cousins continue their business of selling dried herbs and vegetables from the mountains.
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It was always the practice of elders like my grandfather to remind or advise the younger Foochows like my parents to boil the soup for themselves from time to time.

I also remember that when Foochows got together they would comment on how nice the root soup tasted in China, and how they looked forward to new shipment in the shops like Nguong Choon especially.

I did not like the taste of the soup until I was an adult and appreciated the significance of the soup.

This soup also helps many exhausted mothers to sleep better at night.

Today wild pepper roots can be found in the mountains of Sarawak.

Soh Mien on First Day of Lunar New Year

 Today 10.2.2024 is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Dragon. Yes I have cooked the chicken and made the soh mien. Happy New Year!!...