Cordyceps and Duck Soup

Called dongchong xiacao in Chinese, which means winter-worm-summer-grass, Cordyceps sinensis are caterpillar fungi trailing grass ends. They abound in Sichuan province, and are much treasured by the Chinese, both the young and the old, who use them as a tonic. They are believed to benefit the lungs and kidneys, stop bleeding and dispel phlegm, and they can also correct impotence, seminal emissions, and ease aches and pains in the loins and knees. Usually put in soups, as in this reno