Dezhou Braised Chicken

Dezhou Braised Chicken

　　Dezhou Braised Chicken is a famous specialty of Dezhou, renowned for its five-spice flavor, boneless tenderness, soft texture, and fragrant yet not greasy taste. It is hailed as one of the wonders of China. With a history of three hundred years, braised chicken was already being sold in the streets of Dezhou and at both water and land docks during the Ming Dynasty. In 1692 (the 31st year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty), braised chicken made its debut. In 1702, when Emperor Kangxi visited Dezhou during his southern tour, he stayed at the home of Tian Wen, a renowned poet and his childhood tutor. There, he tasted the local delicacy—boneless five-spice braised chicken—and was greatly pleased. From then on, Dezhou Braised Chicken became an imperial tribute. During the Qianlong era, braised chicken artisans were summoned to the imperial kitchen, which helped spread the fame of Dezhou Braised Chicken across the country. In the early 20th century, descendants of the recipe such as Hou Baoqing, the owner of Dezhou’s Baolanzhai Restaurant, and Han Shigong, the owner of Deshunzhai, carefully studied their ancestors’ techniques, explored extensively, refined the process, improved the recipe, and produced the uniquely flavored “boneless five-spice braised chicken.” Its characteristics include: an elegant shape, with the whole chicken lying in a pose resembling perched feathers, lifelike in appearance; a richly golden and crimson color, glossy and luxurious; a deep, rich aroma that lingers without fading; a balanced taste suitable for most palates, with moderate saltiness, fragrant but not greasy, tender and falling-off-the-bone, maintaining its original form, and when shaken while hot, the meat separates easily from the bones. Due to its meticulous preparation, comprehensive ingredients, and excellent color, aroma, taste, and presentation, it quickly captured the market, expanded its reach, and grew in fame.

　　Since its inception, Dezhou Braised Chicken has received widespread acclaim. In 1956, it was ranked first among similar products at the “Shandong Province Meat Processing Competition.” In June of the same year, at the “National Food Exhibition” in Beijing, it caused a sensation and was hailed as the “Number One Chicken in China.” From 1981 to 1983, it won the title of Quality Product for three consecutive sessions at the “National Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Competition” hosted by the Ministry of Commerce. In 1988, it received the Silver Award (no Gold Award was given for this category) at the First China Food Expo. In 1989, it earned the Elite Award at the First National Civilian Products Competition. In 1990, it won the Gold Award at the First Domestic Life Enhancement Competition of the 1990s, earning praise from domestic and international culinary experts and business professionals alike. In June 1985, a friendship delegation from Nakahama City Civic Hall in Japan visited the Dezhou Braised Chicken United Enterprise Company. Japanese professor Fujihara Kensuke, after tasting the chicken, was full of praise and inscribed: “The most delicious in the world.”

　　Source: History and Chronicles Office of Decheng District