Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

• The internal seed of the Gingkos trees (usually peeled and cored)
• Extremely common in western cultures used as supplements (usually in powder or pill form)
• Very commonly found in Asian countries and believed to have originated in China
• Seeds are similar size and shapes to almonds and are pale-yellow / beige in colour 

How do I prepare it?

• If using fresh ginkgo bilobas, break shell, boil in hot water for about 5-8 minutes (or until cooked) and immediately remove the outer skin while still warm
• Use a toothpick to poke out the internal part of the seed (long portion – which is bitter)
• For pre-cooked and packaged ginkgo bilobas, simply wash in cool water and use

Where can I buy this?

• You can purchase fresh seeds (that required boiling and peeling) from Asian supermarkets
• They also come in pre-packaged (peeled and cooked) for your cooking convenience

What is the cost?

• One pack of around 20 seeds cost around $10 HKD from the wet mart

Any benefits?

Beneficial to memory and used as a concentration enhancer
Ideal for increasing blood flow and kill free radicals in the body (that cause aging and heart diseases)

Any precautions?

• Pregnant women should NOT consume gingko biloba seeds as it can potentially harm the fetus
• Children should also avoid high consumption of seeds as it is said to be poisonous
• May cause dizziness and headaches
• Should not be consumed by people who have allergies to poison ivy or mangos

References?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_Biloba
• http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginkgo-biloba-000247.htm