Shangcheng Tianxiang Vegetable is a specialty of Shangcheng County, Xinyang City, Henan Province. In the Dabie Mountains, Tianxiang Vegetable grows wild locally. People in the mountainous areas, regardless of age — from the elderly to children — all know that Tianxiang Vegetable is not only edible but also possesses certain medicinal value. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a bitter-tasting, cold-natured, non-toxic, alkaline herbaceous plant. Because of its bitterness, it is also known as bitter vegetable…
Tianxiang Vegetable is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. It has a bitter taste, is cold in nature, non-toxic, and alkaline. Because of its bitterness, it is also known as Bitter Vegetable. Due to its distinctive odor, reminiscent of fermented sauce, it is also called Immortal Vegetable. In the folk tradition of the Dabie Mountains, it is referred to as Guanyin Vegetable; literati call it Immortal Vegetable, and during wartime, it was known as General’s Vegetable. Tianxiang Vegetable grows deep in the mountains and dense forests, with lush green and thick leaves...
Pine mushrooms are a rare and precious wild edible fungus, found in limited areas and mostly growing symbiotically with pine tree roots. They cannot be cultivated artificially. Rich in polyols and natural polysaccharide active compounds, regular consumption of these mushrooms is believed to help treat diabetes, improve skin beauty and health, prevent tumors, and resist nuclear radiation. This soup, made with pine mushrooms and sliced black pork tenderloin, is highly nutritious...
The main ingredient is Huainan Ma ducks raised for over a year by duck farmers using rice, grains, and other mixed feed in free-range conditions. Made with duck meat, offal, blood, and local mountain radish, and cooked with local mountain spring water using traditional local culinary techniques, this duck soup is highly nutritious. The meat is tender and flaky, the duck blood is smooth, the broth is clear and flavorful, and the radish is fresh…
According to the *Records of Shangcheng*, during the Warring States period, mountain dwellers, in order to escape warfare, prepared food by wrapping marinated fish seasoned with spices in lotus leaves and placing them inside bamboo tubes to carry into the mountains. After storing for some time, they would cook and eat the fish—hence the name “Bamboo Tube Fish.” For thousands of years, local farmers have traditionally used this method to cure fish chunks.…
The Shangcheng black pig is an ancient local breed that has been registered as a national geographical indication product. These pigs are raised in free-range conditions and fed a diet of rice bran, wheat bran, sweet potatoes, corn, and wild vegetables, using cooked feed. Their growth period lasts over 10 months. The pork is organic and natural, with tender texture, vibrant color, and rich in amino acids and…
The main ingredient is fermented moldy tofu dregs processed through a special technique. During fermentation, in addition to retaining abundant nutrients such as dietary fiber and calcium, the content of free amino acids increases significantly. Stir-frying these tofu dreg pieces with leeks not only makes the dish highly nutritious but also gives it a vibrant color and deliciously savory taste.…
Shangcheng County boasts a network of rivers and canals, as well as numerous reservoirs, ponds, weirs, and dams, creating an ideal environment for the natural growth and reproduction of eels. Made with preserved pork from Shangcheng black pigs and wild eels, this hot pot features richly fragrant pork and tender, fresh eels. Its unique flavor leaves a lasting impression and offers health benefits such as enriching blood, boosting qi, reducing inflammation, disinfecting, and alleviating rheumatism. …
Duck Egg Dried Tofu is a type of fermented dried tofu that is brined using traditional methods. Its origins date back to the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty and the recipe has been passed down to this day. The brine is made from a blend of 19 Chinese herbs. The dried tofu has a pungent flavor reminiscent of rotten duck eggs, hence the name “Duck Egg Dried Tofu.” The longer the brine is used, the richer and more mellow its flavor becomes. In 1942, during the Japanese invasion, Yi Dezeng, the second-generation inheritor of the Yi family’s Duck Egg Dried Tofu, abandoned all his belongings while fleeing but insisted on taking only the earthen jar containing the aged brine. When he returned home, he brought the brine back with him and continued using it. For decades, the original brine has never been discarded and has been passed down through generations, still in use today. When this dried tofu is stir-fried with green peppers, it becomes tender, aromatic, and delicious, leaving a memorable aftertaste. It is believed to have health benefits such as refreshing the mind, aiding digestion, and softening blood vessels.
The hen is a free-range local breed raised by farmers, fed on natural foods such as insects and herbs, and allowed to grow for over a year. Daylilies, commonly known as “golden needles,” have the scientific name Hemerocallis and were historically called “forget-worry flowers.” They are the flower buds of a perennial herb. This dish uses daylilies and free-range hen as the main ingredients, prepared using traditional local cooking methods. The resulting chicken is tender in texture…
Lotus root, also known as lotus rhizome, is the root of the lotus plant and is rich in vitamin C and minerals. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or processed into starch, offering benefits such as promoting metabolism and preventing rough skin. There are many dishes made with lotus root, and today we present to you the Stuffed Lotus Root Slices. Here's how to make it: 1. Select 5…
Sweet potatoes, also known as yams, white potatoes, or taro, are rich in starch, dietary fiber, carotene, various vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, iron, copper, selenium, and calcium. They are recognized by the nutrition community as a balanced and health-promoting food. In particular, the starch in sweet potatoes becomes sticky when heated, which helps preserve heat-sensitive and water-soluble vitamin…
Chestnuts are a major local specialty, rich in starch, protein, fat, sugars, carotene, various vitamins, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients. They have health benefits such as nourishing the stomach, strengthening the spleen, and tonifying the kidneys and tendons. They are commonly used in food processing, cooking dishes, and making snacks. There are various cooking techniques for chestnut dishes, including braising, stewing,…
Black Fungus: Harvested from the deep mountain forests of Shangcheng, this black fungus features large clusters, thick and tender texture, high elasticity, a dark brown color, and an ear-like shape—hence the name "black fungus." Also known as "wood ear" because it grows on decaying wood. Scientific analysis shows it is rich in protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, and small amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other elements...
Toona sinensis: Also known as red toon. It is a deciduous tree of the Meliaceae family. Its leaves are pinnately compound, appearing red when young. The tender leaves and shoots are a delicious woody vegetable in late spring and early summer. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty wrote in *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “The bark of the toon tree is fine, its flesh firm and red, and its tender leaves are fragrant and sweet, suitable for eating.” The *Shangcheng County Annals・Products* from the Jiaqing era…
Mall County has a long history of cultivating chestnuts. The chestnuts produced in the county are known for being large, tender, thin-skinned, sweet, brightly colored, plump, and easy to peel. The flesh is high in sugar, of excellent quality, and deliciously sweet, making them highly popular and ideal for candied chestnuts. In addition to being roasted, they can also be eaten raw, baked, or ground into chestnut flour for use in various pastries, or as an ingredient in cooking.
Shangcheng Kudzu Powder is grown in Changzhuyuan Township, located in the deep mountainous area of the Dabie Mountains. The region generally ranges in altitude from 405 to 1,352.6 meters, with an average elevation of 716.3 meters and a relative height of 947.6 meters. The highest peak, Jiufengjian, stands at 1,352.6 meters, while the lowest point is at 150 meters. The product is entirely ecological, pollution-free, and absolutely natural. It has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties, nourishes…
Suxian Stone Duck Egg Tofu is a traditional specialty of Shangcheng County. It was first created during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850) by Yi Jikui from Suxian Stone in Shangcheng. Made from tofu, the product is roasted over charcoal and then simmered in a uniquely formulated brine. The longer the brine is used, the richer its flavor becomes. The finished product is light green or...
Osmanthus glutinous rice balls are one of the famous snacks in Shangcheng. They are made with carefully selected ingredients and crafted with precision. The primary ingredient is premium glutinous rice, which undergoes several processes including washing, soaking, grinding into slurry, and straining the slurry. The resulting paste is then placed in fine cloth bags and hung to dry until all moisture is removed, leaving behind starch. The filling is mainly made from high-quality granulated sugar and osmanthus, with an appropriate amount of hydrogenated lard and a trace of flour added. The mixture is formed into...
Niuyu Mountain Reservoir is located in Shangcheng County and is a large national reservoir. It boasts excellent water quality and abundant plankton, making it rich in silver carp (bighead carp), grass carp, and crucian carp, all of which have snow-white and tender flesh. Using these fish as ingredients, the locally traditional clay pot fish—especially the clay pot fish head—is nutritious, with delicate and tender fish meat...