CHICKEN ESSENCE, BREWED WITH LOVE
Certified as a health food in Taiwan, the farm-to-table Drip Chicken Essence from Tian Yuan Xiang delivers the best of TCM to your home, just like mummy’s chicken soup.
NOW, WHO HASN’T REACHED for that bottle of chicken essence from time to time for that boost of vitality or nourishment? While most of us are no stranger to chicken essences, there is a new and improved version in town – Drip Chicken Essence by Taiwanese brand Tian Yuan Xiang (TYX). First established in 2005, the company has come to be recognised today as the gold standard in Drip Chicken Essence in Taiwan. This year, Taiwanese consumers even voted TYX as the top expert for the tonic. And it is easy to see why.
DROPS OF GOODNESS
In Taiwan, TYX is the very first pioneer in this “drip” method of production, which involves double-boiling a whole chicken over a sieve within a ceramic pot heated by a charcoal fire. The bird is individually slow-cooked for eight hours without the addition of water. During the cooking process, its essence is collected drop by drop, degreased and double-filtered, resulting in the purest, most nutritious and healthiest product.
The company is also renowned for its vertical integration and quality control. Unlike other brands, which outsource various aspects of the production to other vendors, TYX manages the entire process strictly – from raising the chickens to the manufacturing to packaging and sales. Its rigorous standards and firm belief in the farm-to-table concept has earned TYX the Health Food Certification from Taiwan’s Official Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2012, 2015 and 2019 – which is a feat not achieved by any other brand.
On TYX’S farm in the pristine mountains of southern Taiwan, only free-range black-feathered chickens traditionally used for double-boiled soups are bred for this purpose. Raised without chemicals or hormones, every chicken is inspected for quality before slaughter. Even the production facility boasts top-notch laboratory conditions, ensuring utmost cleanliness and food safety.
It is little wonder that celebrities are fans of TYX. Taiwanese superstar Lin Chiling was a loyal customer for over a decade before she was invited by the company in 2019 to shoot TV commercials with her publicity-shy mother, who made an exception due to her love for the brand. From its humble beginnings as a small family-run business, TYX has since become a premium international name with 16 retail outlets in Taiwan and stores in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
ROOTED IN HEALTH AND HERBOLOGY
While the original Drip Chicken Essence was intended to broadly suit different nourishment needs across ages and demographics, its popularity and efficacy have encouraged TYX to collaborate with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians to develop unique brews for various consumer requirements. From children and adolescents, to adults and the elderly, to post-operative patients and pregnant women, TYX is committed to benefiting the health of every member of the family unit, at every life stage.
A best-selling flavour in Hong Kong is the Eucommia Chicken Essence, which is also expected to be sought-after in Singapore due to the lifestyle similarities of consumers in both cities. Even famous Hong Kong actresses Charmaine Sheh and Linda Chung have endorsed it.
The formula features plenty of TCM herbs that nourish the kidney’s qi. According to TCM, it boosts the function of the kidney, which regulates hair growth, hormones, the organs in the waist area, and the reproductive system. Ideal for those suffering from conditions caused by a stressful and sedentary lifestyle involving regular late nights and sleeping badly, the tonic is helpful for hormonal disorders and lethargy.
The main herb is Eucommia (du zhong in Chinese), a kind of rubber tree bark highly valued in TCM for its four main health benefits. The first is its wound healing and antioxidant effect, thanks to its chlorogenic acid component believed to reduce the likelihood of vaginal and urinary tract infections. The second is its ability to nourish the liver, protect the kidneys, strengthen hair growth, and prevent hair loss and whitening. The third is its ability to strengthen the musculoskeletal system, alleviating backaches and knee pain. Finally, it is also effective in relieving constipation, boosting metabolism and burning excess body fat.
Other ingredients in the Eucommia Chicken Essence are Dodder Seed, Mulberry Mistletoe Stems, Himalayan Teasel Root and Colla Corii Asini. Two specific herbs, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Ophiopogonis Radix, promote good sleep. It is considered to be a gentle tonic suitable even for pregnant and postpartum women. Packaged as a box of 20 in individual foil sachets, each 60cc serving is easily dispensed and only needs to be warmed up quickly in the microwave or steamer. The brew is also low in calories, sodium and cholesterol; and does not contain preservatives, artificial colouring and spices.
Taste-wise, it is mildly herbal but bursting with rich chicken flavour, which makes it suitable for every palate. Those who feel that regular chicken essences tend to be too strong or pungent would be delighted that TYX Eucommia Chicken Essence tastes like a more concentrated version of mum’s hearty chicken soup – served fresh from the kitchen.