Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork

Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork

　　Product Name: Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork

　　Product Origin: Jiaxing, Zhejiang

　　Product Characteristics: The meat is tender and soft. Rich but not greasy, with a strong aroma of lotus leaves.

　　Product Introduction: Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork is a traditional and famous dish from the ancient town of Xitang. With a long history, it offers a unique flavor in each bite. As the saying goes about five delightful tastes, this dish stands out with three main features: First, the fragrance—pure and genuine; second, the tenderness—soft yet not falling apart; third, the richness—rich but not greasy. It is well-known across Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and has received unanimous praise from both domestic and international tourists. Steamed pork is a specialty of Jiashan, wrapped in lotus leaves into the shape of a “Jiaxing zongzi,” offering a fragrant taste upon first bite—oily yet not greasy.

　　Story: Legend has it that there was once a couple who ran a small restaurant, but business was slow and they could barely make ends meet. The husband, however, had a bad habit—he loved gambling, often losing all his money, which made life increasingly difficult for the two. One day, the wife gave her husband a few copper coins and asked him to buy some bowls and salt for the home. Unexpectedly, the husband, feeling the urge to gamble, ended up losing all the money. He returned home empty-handed. A quarrel naturally ensued, with the wife complaining that there would be no food. At that moment, the husband had a sudden brainwave. Remembering that there was still some pork at home, he cut it into pieces, mixed it with soy sauce, then picked a few lotus leaves from the pond in front of their house to wrap the meat. He steamed it in a pot. To their surprise, when the lotus leaves were peeled off, the aroma of the cooked meat filled the air—the taste was tender and delicious. Later, the couple improved the recipe by adding seasonings and coating the meat with glutinous rice flour before steaming. This resulted in meat that was even more aromatic, tender, and flavorful. From then on, business at their restaurant thrived, and their reputation grew. The husband also stopped gambling and helped his wife run the shop full-time. Their lives gradually improved. Other local restaurants soon began imitating this method, and the dish gradually became a popular favorite in the area. It came to be known as "Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork."