Cao Shi Can (Stachys affinis) — Dried Chinese Artichoke Tubers, Food Herb from Yunnan

Cao Shi Can (Stachys affinis), also known as Chinese Artichoke, Crosne, or by its folk names Bai Chong Cao and Tu Dong Chong Cao, is the dried tuber of a traditional food herb used in Chinese herbal wellness practice. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is known as Cǎo Shí Cán (草石蚕), a gentle, sweet-natured ingredient historically prized in folk formulas for moistening the lungs, supporting the Kidneys, and nourishing yin. Its nature is sweet and neutral, making it a mild yet nourishing herb suitable for daily food-therapy use.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional food herb (药食同源) ingredient
• Dried Cao Shi Can tubers from Yunnan
• Stachys affinis — Chinese Artichoke
• 500g bulk pack for decoction and soup
• Folk names: Bai Chong Cao, Tu Dong Chong Cao

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully dried to preserve the tubers' pale ivory to light tan color, their firm, slightly wrinkled texture, and a mild, earthy aroma. When decocted or simmered, they soften gradually and yield a gentle, subtly sweet infusion with a soft, starchy mouthfeel, blending easily into soups and tonics without overpowering other ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese-style herbal soup and broth
• Decoction with other food herbs
• Congee and grain porridge
• Daily herbal tea blends
• Seasonal nourishment tonic

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Cao Shi Can is decocted into soups, congee, and gentle tonic formulas to support daily nourishment. It is often paired with ingredients like goji berry, Chinese yam, and jujube in slow-simmered broths, and is brewed alone or blended into daily teas for a light, mildly sweet infusion. In some regional traditions it is also used in longevity-style food formulas for its reputed yin-nourishing and lung-moistening qualities.

FAQ Q&A