Wu Zhuang Hele Noodles

Wu Zhuang Hele Noodles

　　Wu Zhuang Hele Noodles are a specialty snack from Wuzhuang Village, Wangzhuang Township, Xun County, Hebi City, Henan Province. A unique feature of Xun County’s hele noodles is the combination of buckwheat flour with millet flour and elm bark flour in specific proportions.

　　The way hele noodles are made in Xun County: at a noodle stall, a wooden hele press is set up over a stove. The prepared dough is stuffed into the press’s holes, and an adult man grips the wooden handle of the press with both hands and presses down with all his strength, forcing the noodles directly into boiling water in the pot. Once the water has boiled vigorously twice, the noodles are cooked. They are then scooped out and rinsed in cold water before being placed in a bowl. Depending on personal taste, chopped scallions, oil, salt, MSG, garlic juice, sesame oil, mustard oil, chili, and bean sprouts are added. In this way, a steaming, fragrant, and appetizing bowl of hele noodles is ready.