Songshan Mianzao

Last updated 2026-11-15 — A famous local specialty of Central Plains, this unique fruit product comes exclusively from Xinzheng City. Commonly known as “earth jujube” or “sticky jujube,” it belongs to the Liliaceae family and is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has underground bulbs, linear leaves growing in clusters directly from the ground, resembling chives. Between July and August, upright flower stems emerge from the leaf clusters, each bearing small pink flowers at their tips. Every April, after the Mianzao sprouts and its leaves grow, farmers search the mountainsides to dig up the bulbs, wash away the soil, and repeatedly steam them until a sugary syrup naturally emerges. The resulting sweetness is delightfully refreshing, and adding brown sugar makes it even sweeter. Mianzao is a warming tonic with high nutritional value and a sticky texture. With its distinctive flavor, it serves as a nourishing food that can be stored for a long time without spoiling.