Water Douchi is the “signature spicy pickle” of mountain villagers, made by steaming and fermenting soybeans (either yellow or black beans), then pickling them with shredded ginger, chili powder, and other spicy seasonings. Farmers in various counties and cities of Baoshan also commonly prepare this dish, with similar production methods and ingredients, but the color and flavor of the Shidian version are considered the best: its bright red, glistening appearance…
Steamed Rice Cake is made from glutinous rice. It has a soft, fluffy texture and a sweet, delicious taste. The characteristics of Steamed Rice Cake are indeed unique: first, it has a smooth, creamy color; second, it offers a pleasant mouthfeel with a lingering sweet aftertaste; third, it is small and thin, usually about the size of a dipping dish, with the thickest part in the middle being only two to three centimeters; fourth, it is economical and affordable. Therefore, it is suitable for…
The “Red-Coated Rice Peanut” gets its name from its red husk. It is mainly grown along the Blue River in Xiaocun Township. The peanuts are small, round, plump, and have a unique aroma, and are exported to countries such as the United States and Japan. Xiaocun Township has a long history of cultivating the “Red-Coated Rice Peanut.” The region lies in the southwestern part of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, on the eastern extension of the Wuling Mountains from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau…
The pure breeding and crossbreeding of wild boars were still unexplored in Enshi Prefecture. After five years of exploration and practice, the Changliang Wild Boar Domestication and Breeding Base of YunTong Company in Jianshi County has made breakthrough progress. By April 20 of this year, 40 wild boar piglets had been born. In 2002, with the support of the Jianshi County Forestry Bureau, YunTong Company captured...
Walnuts, also known as hu tao, are said to have been brought back by Zhang Qian during his mission to the Western Regions. They mostly grow in mountainous or hilly areas and are drought-resistant. Known as a "longevity food," walnuts are sweet in flavor and warm in nature. They can nourish the lungs and kidneys, enrich yin and support yang, moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, as well as soothe coughs and calm wheezing. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* states: "It treats deficiency-cold, coughing and wheezing, and pain in the lower back and legs." The *Medical Revelations of an Orthodox Physician* refers to it as an "essential medicine for strengthening muscles and bones." The *Kaibao Materia Medica* claims that regular consumption of walnuts can "make people robust, moisturize the skin, and darken hair." When used in traditional Chinese medicine, walnut kernels can treat impotence, seminal emission, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, insomnia and forgetfulness, frequent urination, qi and blood deficiency, and dysmenorrhea in women.
Rapeseed is the main oil crop in our region, and rapeseed oil is the primary cooking vegetable oil for the local people. Due to its close connection with daily life, the hardworking people have long affectionately referred to rapeseed oil as "fragrant oil."…
Jianshi Konjac…
Guankou Grapes, a specialty of Jianshi County in Hubei Province, are grown exclusively in Gangfang Village, Guankou Township, Huaping Town (a small place called Guankou, located near Jingyang Pass, also known as Jianping Pass), hence the name. The grape berries are medium-dense on the cluster, averaging 40–60 berries per cluster per Figure 1 Hubei Jianshi Guankou Grapes – with an oval or nearly round shape,…
Jianshi County in Hubei Province boasts extremely rich wild kiwifruit resources, with wild kiwifruit plants—some decades or even hundreds of years old—found everywhere. According to the *Jianshi County Annals*, in 1980, a survey conducted by the county’s Specialty Products Bureau and Light Industry Bureau revealed that the area of wild kiwifruit in Jianshi County covered more than 10,000 acres, with an annual yield of about 1,500 tons. These were divided into two types—hairy and hairless…
The Tujia Ten Bowls are a delicious feast prepared by the Tujia people to welcome honored guests from afar. Typically, the Tujia will serve their most treasured home-cooked dishes, meticulously prepared. The meal begins with preliminaries such as offering tea and fried rice upon entering. The Ten Bowls truly reflect the Tujia people’s warm hospitality, generosity, and straightforward character. Eating from big bowls and enjoying generous portions of meat was a hallmark of the Tujia people in the past…
The "flowers" of chrysanthemum stone were formed naturally within rocks millions of years ago due to geological movements, and can be described as having "absorbed the essence of the sun and moon, and the spirit of heaven and earth." Their shapes closely resemble the vibrant layers of autumn chrysanthemums—creamy white in color, with clear, well-defined patterns and lifelike, jade-like translucence. In Yinjia Village, Jingyang Town, Jianshi County...
Tree peony bark is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine made from the root bark. It has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood, promoting blood circulation, and removing blood stasis. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Anhui, Shandong, Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei. Since 1988, Huaping Township in Jianshi County has been focusing on developing this valuable medicinal herb in suitable villages. To date, the planting area has reached 3,000 mu, with an output...
Jian Shi Hou Po is distributed across ten townships in Jian Shi County, including Maotian Township, Longping Township, Gaoping Town, Huaping Town, and Guandian Town. It is one of the county’s authentic medicinal herbs, covering a regional area of 266,572 hectares. Jian Shi Hou Po boasts high yields, with bark that is 2–3 mm thicker—up to as much as 7 mm—than other varieties. It is hard in texture, easy to break, with a glassy fracture and low fiber content. It emits a fragrant aroma and has a spicy taste. Bark from trees over 25 years old can reach 5–7 mm in thickness, with a barrel circumference of 18–25 cm. The outer surface is dark brown, rough, and oily, sometimes showing numerous small bright purple-red spots, occasionally flaky and relatively easy to peel off, with distinct oval lenticels and longitudinal wrinkles. When the coarse outer bark is scraped off, the inner surface appears yellowish-brown. The inner surface is brown or tan, relatively smooth with fine longitudinal lines, and shows oil marks when scratched. The bark, flowers, and leaves of Jian Shi Hou Po can all be used medicinally. Compared to Chuan Hou Po and Zi You Hou Po, it has broader medicinal applications, mainly in health care and pharmaceutical fields. The bark of Jian Shi Hou Po is thick, rich in oil content, and high in phenolic compounds. It contains less fiber and has lower strength but higher phenol content than Chuan Hou Po and Zi You Hou Po. As a renowned traditional Chinese medicine, it helps resolve dampness and stagnation, aids digestion and dispels phlegm, and relieves wind and pain. The large, dense leaves of Hou Po, which can grow up to 25–30 cm long and 10–15 cm wide, are fragrant and can be used as traditional food packaging material—they prevent food from sticking and offer anti-corrosion and health benefits. Locally operated businesses now export the leaves to South Korea and Japan as eco-friendly food packaging material after primary processing. Jian Shi Hou Po is an authentic traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history and wide distribution. It was recorded in the Jian Shi volume of the "Kuizhou Prefecture Annals" from the seventh year of the Ming Zhengde era (1512), and the “Jian Shi Hou Po” trademark was successfully registered in 2011. Over the past decade, Jian Shi County has established a 50,000-mu (approximately 3,333-hectare) Jian Shi Hou Po base through key forestry projects such as the Grain for Green Program, Natural Forest Conservation Program, and follow-up industry development. A sales network has been formed with major herbal medicine markets including Bozhou in Anhui, Anguo in Hebei, Yulin in Guangxi, and Qingping in Guangzhou. Annual sales of Jian Shi Hou Po reach 1,000 tons, generating an output value of 16 million yuan and foreign exchange earnings of 3.2 million yuan through exports.
"Fermented black bean paste" is originally a traditional home-cooked dish of the Tujia people in western Hubei. But when it comes to achieving the perfect balance of color, aroma, and taste, I believe Jian Nan’s version stands out as the best. To make top-quality Jian Nan "fermented black bean paste," one could summarize the process with eight words: "meticulous craftsmanship and precise heat control." First, in terms of ingredient selection, only large,...
Jingyang walnuts are a specialty of Jingyang Town, Jianshi County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. Jingyang walnuts from Jianshi are known for their large size, thin shells, abundant and tender kernels, delicious taste, high kernel yield, and high fat content. Many of their quality indicators meet international standards, making them an excellent choice for gifts and nourishing the body, and they are highly favored by consumers. Jingyang walnuts are mainly grown…
Divine Tofu of Daichengou is a specialty of Daichengou Village, Yezhou Town, Jianshi County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. Villagers in Daichengou often pick the leaves of the dove oak tree to make “divine tofu,” which has become a beloved delicacy due to its fragrant, delicate texture, pollution-free production, and delicious taste. In Daichengou Village, Yezhou Town, Jianshi County, there is a kind of...
Laifeng Pickled Ginger is made from Fengtou ginger through traditional Tujia processing techniques in Laifeng. This product is renowned across Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan for being “crisp, tender, stringless, appetizing, and refreshing.”
Lead-free pine-flower century egg is a traditional product of Laifeng County, made from duck eggs produced by local Laifeng ma ducks. With a unique production technique, the egg white is as smooth as jade and features pine-and-cypress leaf-like patterns, commonly known as pine flowers. It has a tender, delicious taste with a lingering fragrance, enjoying a high reputation both in China and abroad. Testing by the Food Quality Supervision and Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture shows that it meets…
“Golden Silk Tung Oil” is a famous local specialty of Laifeng County, Hubei Province. It has a high concentration, a bright orange-yellow hue, and can be drawn into threads, hence earning the name “Golden Silk Tung Oil.” The quality of “Golden Silk Tung Oil” ranks the highest among tung oils in China, and it has won the Hubei Provincial “Product Gold Award” and “Best-Selling Product Award.” Golden Silk Tung Oil is an excellent drying oil that possesses…
Laifeng lacquered chopsticks have a history of over 160 years. The product is meticulously crafted from more than 100 raw materials—including the world-renowned Laifeng “Golden Silk Tung Oil” and Lichuan Dam Lacquer—through over 30 processes. These chopsticks combine practicality with collectible value, featuring vibrant colors, an elegant antique charm, high heat resistance, wear resistance, non-toxicity, odorlessness, and even antibacterial…