Magnolia flowers, also known as Wangchun flowers, have flower buds that are a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb. When used medicinally, they can dispel wind, clear nasal passages, and treat conditions such as headaches, nasal congestion, and toothaches. They are mainly produced in the Funiu and Tongbai mountainous areas, with Nanzhao County having the highest yield. These flowers not only meet domestic demand but are also popular exports to various Southeast Asian countries.…
Xichuan Daling Dates are a specialty of Xichuan County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. These dates are large in size (averaging 28 grams each), bright in color, thin-skinned, delicious in taste, and crisp when eaten fresh. They are rich in various nutrients needed by the human body, such as sugar, phosphorus, iron, and protein, which can help prevent aging and promote longevity. They are a highly nutritious tonic...
Lamb soup with sliced noodles is an innovation from recent years in Nanzhao. Before this dish was created, lamb pulled noodles and stewed lamb soup were the local favorites. Lamb pulled noodles are made with a base of lamb bone broth, into which hand-pulled noodle sheets are added. Once the noodles are cooked, greens are added before serving, and finally stir-fried lamb is added on top. The dish is characterized by more noodles, less meat, and simple ingredients. It can...
Nanzhao kiwifruit is a specialty of Nanzhao County in Nanyang City, Henan Province. Nanzhao County lies in the transitional climatic zone between north and south China, making it suitable for kiwifruit cultivation. The area boasts abundant wild kiwifruit resources. Nanyang, situated in this transitional climatic zone, is well suited for growing kiwifruit. In addition to over 100,000 acres of kiwifruit production bases, several mountainous counties such as Xixia, Neixiang,…
Nanzhao chestnuts are a specialty of Nanzhao County in Nanyang City, Henan Province. With a long history of cultivation, Nanzhao chestnuts are renowned as "insect-free chestnuts" and are one of Henan’s key production counties, as well as a traditional export dried fruit product of Nanzhao. The cultivation of chestnuts in Nanzhao County has a long history. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, Nanzhao chestnuts were transported south to Wuhan and north to Luoyang...
Huangludian Peanuts are a specialty of Huangludian Town, Nanzhao County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. The peanuts are plump, with uniformly sized pods, yellowish-white glossy shells, light pink and relatively thin seed coats. They are crispy with a sweet taste and have a pleasant texture. Peanut cultivation in Nanzhao County is mainly concentrated in towns around the Yehukou Reservoir, such as Huangludian, Shimen, Nan…
Nanzhao sweet potatoes are a specialty of Nanzhao County in Nanyang City, Henan Province. They are favored by consumers for their high starch and sugar content, lack of fibrous texture or grittiness, and soft, sweet taste. The county has a perennial planting area of about 100,000 mu of sweet potatoes, accounting for over 30% of its autumn crop acreage. The average yield per mu is around 1,700 kilograms of fresh tubers, and...
Nanzhao Native Chicken is a specialty of Nanzhao County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. The meat of Nanzhao Native Chicken has a great texture, rich aroma, and is chewy, making it an excellent tonic food, especially suitable for making chicken soup. Also known as free-range chicken, Nanzhao Native Chicken is a breed that has been locally developed over the years through self-breeding by local residents. In the rural areas of Nanzhao, nearly every household...
【Neixiang】Wangdian Huoshao: Originating in the early Qing Dynasty, Wangdian Huoshao is round, about one inch thick, and weighs two taels. It is filled with chopped scallions, sesame oil, salt, chili, and other seasonings, then baked in a charcoal oven. The finished product is orange-yellow, crispy on the outside, flaky, and has an incredibly enticing aroma. Wangdian Huoshao is exquisitely made and remains a bestseller. A local rhyme attests to its popularity: "Wangdian Huoshao is great, eight..."
Fried dough sticks can be found everywhere, but those from Majia Kou have a unique flavor — about as thick as a middle finger, perfectly round, with a hollow center running through both ends. When eaten, they are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with a long-lasting aftertaste of fennel. The Chengguan Cylinder Oven Sesame Cakes and Neixiang Cylinder Oven Sesame Cakes are widely renowned for being crispy, fragrant, sweet, and savory. Their preparation involves mixing the dough with small-mill sesame oil, salt, scallions, and other ingredients to form dough blocks,…
Also known as vegetable python, it is a typical rustic dish from Neixiang. The method involves rolling out unleavened dough into thin sheets, spreading the filling evenly on top, then rolling it into a cylindrical shape. Hold both ends and squeeze toward the middle to create wrinkles in the dough, then steam it until cooked. Common meat fillings include leeks, shredded dried radish with meat, and cellophane noodles; vegetarian options include leeks, sweet potato leaves, sow thistle, and shredded dried radish…
“Sieve sieve, clatter clatter, what’s for dinner when uncle comes to visit? Beat eggs, fry oil spirals — no no, I’ll have two big bowls instead.” In the old rural days, when there were no steamed buns available on regular days, villagers would fry oil spirals to serve guests when unexpected visitors arrived and there wasn’t enough time to prepare leavened buns. Method: Knead the dough into a soft, smooth ball, then roll it out into a flat cake. Brush a layer of fragrant oil on top, evenly sprinkle with chopped scallions and fine salt...
Dendrobium, also known as Dendrobium Orchid, is a plant of the genus Dendrobium in the orchid family. It is native to the Himalayas and surrounding areas and is one of the earliest recorded orchid species in ancient Chinese literature. With its beautiful flower shapes, elegant postures, vibrant colors, wide variety, and long blooming period, it is beloved and admired by people around the world and holds an important position in the international floral market...
Mountain celery is a perennial herb that can grow up to 1 meter tall. The upper part of the stem branches repeatedly in a forked pattern. The basal and lower stem leaves have petioles, which are flat and about 30 cm long; the leaf blades are nearly round, usually with three lobes and rarely five, the central lobe being wedge-shaped and obovate, while the lateral lobes each have a deep notch, and the edges are doubly serrated. The stem leaves gradually become smaller, almost sessile, and usually have three lobes. The inflorescence is forked in two to three orders, with lateral branches spreading outward and the central branches shorter. The involucre is pinnately divided, about 8 mm long; the bracteoles are inversely lanceolate or linear, about 1.5 mm long; there are 2–3 rays, and the small umbels bear 8–10 flowers; the flowers are yellowish-white, with 5–7 staminate flowers that have pedicels, and 3–4 pistillate flowers that are sessile. The fruit is globular and ovoid, 5 cm long and 4 cm wide, with notched calyx teeth at the apex, erect fruit spines that hook at the tips, slightly swollen at the base, the transverse section of the mericarp nearly round, the ventral side of the endosperm slightly concave, with five oil tubes, or only two large and prominent ones at the commissural surface. Flowering occurs in April.
The Nanyang Black Pig is characterized by drooping earlobes, stiff and straight ear roots, a flat back, and a double spine. It matures sexually early and exhibits notable hybrid vigor. Its slaughter rate is around 70%, with a carcass meat yield of 46–48% and a fat content of 24–30%. It is currently mainly distributed in Xichuan County, Neixiang County, and Dengzhou City. According to…
Taixi Worm-Free Chestnuts are a specialty of Taixi Town, Neixiang County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Centered around Taozhuanghe Village and extending to five surrounding villages, the area has vigorously cultivated worm-free chestnuts, establishing a chestnut base spanning over ten thousand mu, and has built the brand “Taixi Worm-Free Chestnuts.” In Taixi Town, Neixiang County—where there isn’t even half a mu of flat land—there lies a widely renowned Flower-Fruit Mountain...
Neixiang pickled vegetables are a specialty of Neixiang County in Nanyang City, Henan Province. Almost every household in Neixiang makes these pickles, which have a pure sour flavor that never gets tiresome. They help stimulate the appetite, clear internal heat, and cut through greasiness. They can be served cold in salads, used in soups, noodles, or stuffed in buns. “Travel west from Nanyang, and every home has pickled vegetables.” Neixiang pickled vegetables differ from Sichuan-style pickles as well as those used in “Sour and Spicy Fish”...
Neixiang Jar Oven Sesame Cake is a specialty of Neixiang County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Known far and wide for being crispy, fragrant, sweet, and savory, the cake is made by mixing flour with small-mill sesame oil, salt, scallions, and other ingredients to form dough. The dough is kneaded and rested multiple times before being rolled into round cakes that are thin in the center and slightly thicker at the edges. A layer of malt sugar syrup is brushed on top, and once the surface turns golden and the texture becomes crisp, it’s ready...
Neixiang Rolled Pancake is a specialty snack from Neixiang County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Also known as "Cai Mang" (Vegetable Python), it is a typical rustic staple in Neixiang. The dish is made by rolling out unleavened dough into thin sheets, spreading a filling evenly on top, then rolling it into a cylindrical shape. Both ends are held and squeezed toward the center to create wrinkles in the dough, which is then steamed until cooked. Common fillings include:…
Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, are native to South America. They are cultivated in over 100 countries worldwide, with the highest prevalence in Asia, followed by Africa. According to Chinese literature on peanuts, their cultivation history in China predates that of Europe by more than 100 years. Peanuts are often referred to as "plant meat" due to their oil content of up to 50% and excellent quality...