Several black chicken breeds exist especially in Asia but the Chinese Silkie is the most popular. Silkies are attractive birds that are covered in silk like fluffy plumage. Underneath all that beauty however, the chicken’s skin and internal organs are all completely black. They are mostly sold in the western world as ornaments, but in China the Silkies are considered a delicacy. They are savored for their deep gammy flavor and are rarely roasted. They are also considered good moms since they can hatch other bird’s eggs.
The Chinese refer to them as the “black-boned chicken” or “wu gu ji” and have been using its medicinal value since the seventh or eighth century. Women use it to boost their energy after giving birth and it also has a positive effect on lungs, stomach, yin and blood when consumed. The Chinese take full advantage of the Silkies medicinal value by using it to make an amber colored soup that is mixed with dried wolf berries, ginseng and jujubes.
