Huaian Fragrant Melon is a specialty of Huaiyin District in Huaian, Jiangsu Province. It has an attractive appearance, vibrant colors, a crisp and sweet taste, and is refreshing to eat—making it a great summer fruit. Moreover, the melon is rich in vitamin A, C, and potassium, offering excellent diuretic benefits and skin-beautifying effects. Experimental results have shown that its components contain “cucurbitacin,” which...
Zhenfengyuan Restaurant was established in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1872), serving popular dishes such as wontons, potstickers, and sweet porridge. Over generations, chefs continuously refined their techniques and improved flavor quality, making Zhenfengyuan’s fermented rice wontons widely renowned. The wonton wrappers are extremely thin—over 600 can be made from one pound of flour, thin enough to see fingerprints through them when held in the palm. The filling…
Legend has it that when Yu the Great was taming the floods and passed by Hongze Lake—back in ancient times when people relied mainly on fishing and hunting for survival—the workers building the water control projects fell ill one after another due to hunger and cold. Yu was deeply concerned when he heard that the local Hongze Lake abounded in fish and shrimp, especially whitefish, which were plump, large, good for health and healing, and deliciously fresh. Unfortunately, a…
Hongze Lake Blue Shrimp, also known as river shrimp or marsh shrimp, is a major economic shrimp species in the Hongze Lake area. It is rich in nutrition, tender and delicious, making it a highly prized and valuable aquatic product. It prefers to inhabit shallow water areas or slow-moving waters overgrown with aquatic plants. During the day, it remains hidden in dark places and becomes active at night, often crawling along the lake bottom, aquatic vegetation, and other objects...
Eel, also known as river eel, snake fish, wind eel, white eel, white eel, green eel, green eel, hairy fish, flowing eel, or anguilla, is a premium edible fish with high nutritional value. It is rich in fat and carbohydrates, surpassing all other fish in these nutrients. Hongze Lake eel is packed with various nutrients and offers benefits such as nourishing deficiencies, enriching blood, removing dampness, and fighting...
Mandarin fish from Hongze Lake, also known as flower crucian carp, mandarin perch, seasonal flower fish, osmanthus fish, Chinese perch, or simply ji fish, is a world-renowned species of high-value freshwater fish. It is considered one of the finest edible freshwater fish and is also referred to as the "freshwater grouper."
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo tasted the delicious flavor of Hongze Lake catfish and composed the poem "A Quatrain on Catfish in Jest," which has been passed down through the ages: "Pink-headed perch, yet boneless still; Snow-white puffer, yet harmless to the will. To the River God and Dragon King I plead, Pray grant me this water sprite indeed." He likened the Hongze Lake catfish to a water spirit—an unboned “pufferfish” that could be enjoyed without risking one’s life. The poem...
Hongze Lake whitebait, also known as silver strip fish, ice fish, or glass fish, is a premium aquatic product. Its flesh is at its plumpest and most delicious during spring and summer. Resembling a jade hairpin in shape and ivory in color, Hongze Lake whitebait has no scales and cartilaginous bones, with tender and flavorful meat. It is traditionally consumed whole (including innards, head, and fins), and this whole-food consumption method…
A historical tale about soft-shelled turtles and Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, has long been passed down around Hongze Lake. Legend has it that when Xiang Yu was besieged at Gaixia, not far from Hongze Lake, and surrounded by enemy forces singing mocking songs, his beloved concubine Yu Ji prepared this delicious dish using soft-shelled turtle and young chicken to lift his spirits. After eating it, Xiang Yu was greatly cheered up, regained his fighting spirit, and threw himself wholeheartedly into breaking the siege...
BoLi Lamb (Concubine’s Lamb): Made from high-quality lamb sourced locally from BoLi Town, this dish is cooked with special ingredients such as Chinese yam, ginger, scallions, garlic, pepper, chili, soy sauce, cooking wine, and more. It boasts a delicious taste and unique flavor, being neither gamey nor greasy. Eaten in spring and summer, it helps strengthen the stomach and kidneys while nourishing yin and boosting yang; in autumn and winter, it serves as a tonic that strengthens muscles and bones, promotes blood circulation, and wards off the cold…
Ham-braised fish maw Ham-braised fish maw; Ingredients: 130g fish maw, 25g Jinhua ham, 40g vegetable heart, 1g salt, 1g sugar, 2ml cooking wine, 0.2g pepper, 1g starch, 15g vegetable oil, 3g ginger, 50g broth. Preparation: 1. Wash the fish maw in warm water and cut it into slices about 3 cm...
Huangji Lamb first gained popularity during the late Sui and early Tang dynasties. Made from high-quality Xuhuai goats known for their tender meat and fine muscle fibers, it is scientifically processed to achieve a fresh taste without any strong gamey flavor, offering a unique flavor profile. It is believed to have health benefits such as improving digestion, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing both yin and yang. In 1999, four dishes—Zhashi Lamb, White Jade Lamb, Ancient Town Lamb Offal, and Steamed Lamb—were recognized as Jiangsu Famous Dishes by the Provincial Department of Commerce and the Provincial Culinary Association...
Wild rice stems are a type of perennial aquatic rhizomatous plant, while wild rice seeds are the grains produced by the young shoots of these plants in marshes. The young shoots are harvested, husked, dried, and winnowed to produce wild rice seeds. These slender, cylindrical seeds are about the size of the eye of a needle, hard and smooth like dark jade. Pancakes made from wild rice seeds are dark in color, soft and tender in texture without being sticky...
Red-coated Small Peanuts from Xishunhe, Hongze County, Huaihu Lake Agricultural Products Association, 11186032, fresh peanuts…
Gorgon fruit is an aquatic economic plant. Its petiole, flower stalk, and seeds are all edible. Not only is it highly nutritious, but it also offers excellent medical and health benefits. In 2002, Zhangzhuang Village in Dongshuanggou Town, Hongze County, successfully introduced the cultivation of Suzhou gorgon fruit, leading to a significant increase in profits. Cultivation of Suzhou gorgon fruit rapidly expanded across Hongze County and spread to four counties around the Hongze Lake area…
Hongze White Goose Hongze County Hongze Lake Agricultural Products Association 11186037 Goose (live)…
Hongze Silverfish Hongze County Hongze Lake Agricultural Products Association 11186036 Silverfish (live)...
The flesh of freshwater clams is delicious and nutritious. They are not only beloved in China but also widely enjoyed in Japan, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian countries. Freshwater clams inhabit freshwater lakes, ditches, ponds, and brackish rivers, and are widely distributed across inland water bodies in China. They can also be used as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine...
Hongze Rice, produced by the Hongze Lake Agricultural Products Association of Hongze County, product code 11186027, is a type of rice…
Hongze Lake is one of China’s five largest freshwater lakes, boasting vast waters and abundant natural resources. It is particularly rich in wild lotus roots, and local fishermen often gather green lotus leaves to make fragrant and delicious “lotus leaf rice,” which has become a unique highlight of the fishing culture around Hongze Lake. The origins of “lotus leaf rice” can be traced back historically to Laozi Mountain Town in Hongze County, located by the shores of Hongze Lake…