Guwei Four Spirits Soup

Four divinity soup is a common dish in Taiwan, normally simmered with four different kinds of Chinese herbs such as lotus seed, fox nut seeds, barley, female ginseng, cinnamon vine and Poria cocos. But here at Gu Wei, the soup is served in a whole lot different way. The broth is a mineral rich infusion made by boiling bones with these herbs, giving it an umami allure. After having a sip of the original taste, you may add a bit of the sauce — the two-year-old Chinese medical wine produced by soaking female ginseng, Chinese wolfberries and ginseng in rice wine. With this alcoholic sauce, the broth will gently warm your stomach and keep you satisfied.

Besides the four divinity soup, the braised pork rice has successfully pleased all discerning palates out there. The tender pork strips are fried with ginger, rice wine and the aromatic crispy fried shallots and then simmered for a good hour until gelatin and marinade are indistinguishable. Finally, go with a few slices of pickled turnips made with natural fruit vinegar to give a sour twist to the overall flavor of the dish, and that’s how you enjoy a decent bowl of braised pork rice in the most authentic way ever.