Maozui Marinated Chicken

Maozui Marinated Chicken

　　Famous local delicacies that are delicious and satisfying often win the love of many. Maozui Marinated Chicken is hailed as a unique specialty of the Jingchu region, earning widespread acclaim across the country. Its deliciousness comes from the fact that it is perfectly cooked—tender yet not falling apart, and never greasy. Every bite leaves your mouth, nose, and even your eyes filled with aroma. You won’t even want to throw away the leftover bones; it’s best to suck on them a few times—the bones are fragrant too.

　　Authentic Maozui Marinated Chicken is made with carefully selected ingredients. First, only free-range local chickens—those not raised on feed—are used, typically those raised by villagers in their yards. Second, only roosters are chosen; hens have more fat, while roosters are all muscle, offering a firmer texture and leaving you feeling energized after eating.

　　Wine gets better with age, and so does marinade. I’m not sure how long the history of Maozui Marinated Chicken is, but people say the older the marinade, the better. In the past, without refrigerators or freezers, preserving the quality during hot seasons was a challenge. For those with brisk business, keeping the pot boiling daily wasn’t an issue, but for those with slower days, even a single day without use could spoil the flavor.

　　The pioneer of Maozui Marinated Chicken was Liu Baolin. During the Japanese occupation, a Japanese soldier once demanded Liu serve him the chicken with a “meshi meshi” (Japanese for “let’s eat”). Liu, who deeply resented the Japanese, had no choice but to pour a ladle of watered-down liquor into the marinade pot. You want it tasty? I’ll make sure you don’t enjoy it. But unexpectedly, the result was surprisingly delicious—the chicken became even more fragrant and delicious. From then on, the reputation of Maozui Marinated Chicken was solidified, and Liu Baolin earned the nickname “Marinate Baolin.” In the past, due to limited economic conditions, the chicken was sold in pieces. It was only after the reform and opening-up period, when Maozui had already become a nationally recognized model town, that the dish truly flourished. Every restaurant in the town’s streets and alleys, especially on Mao Wan Street in the old residential area, proudly displayed signs for “Authentic Maozui Marinated Chicken,” filling the air with its enticing aroma. Whether it was the mellow richness, the crispy texture, or the overall deliciousness, the fragrance was so intoxicating that you couldn’t help but take deep breaths through your nose.

　　 Perhaps living up to the saying “good wine needs no bush,” the authentic and direct descendant of the recipe, Guo Sanquan’s Marinated Chicken Shop, is located in a quiet corner of a narrow alley. Its sign is not eye-catching, but because its marinated chicken boasts excellent color, aroma, and taste, diners from Wuhan, Shashi, Jingmen, Yichang, and Tianmen flock here just for it. They buy a chicken each and leave happily. The marinated chicken has also become a popular gift for individuals and a premium offering for businesses. Once, when I brought guests to Guo Sanquan’s shop to buy marinated chicken, we saw the kitchen filled with steam and rich aromas. In a large aluminum pot, over twenty plucked and cleaned raw chickens were upside down, while the soy-sauce-colored marinade boiled vigorously. Old Guo greeted us with a smile. Through our chat, I learned that he wasn’t the only one to inherit Liu Baolin’s authentic marinated chicken technique. His long experience in making the dish had led him to refine some of the processes and recipes.

　　Another marinated chicken that has risen to fame in recent years is the “Baxu” brand from Maozui Xinglong Grand Hotel. It has an even crispier, more fragrant, and firmer texture. The hotel enjoys booming business, with customers primarily coming for the “Baxu” marinated chicken. Many find one not enough and buy a few more to take home for family and friends. The owner, Zhu Yanhua, had the foresight to apply for the “Baxu” brand marinated chicken trademark registration in October 2005 and even advertised it on local TV. The ad slogan was: “‘Baxu’ brand marinated chicken tastes great—the bones are delicious too.”

　　But honestly, all Maozui Marinated Chicken is fresh and delicious, as the basic preparation method is the same. The people of Maozui are shrewd in business. Whether they open shops in Maozui or in cities like Wuhan, Shashi, or Jingmen, they all claim to sell “authentic Maozui marinated chicken.” This has brought them steady profits while also spreading the fame of Maozui Marinated Chicken far and wide. The Maozui Marinated Chicken Factory, which has substantial resources and has registered the “Maozui” brand marinated chicken trademark, produces a vacuum-packed version of the locally made marinated chicken. It has long been a bestseller on supermarket shelves and is even exported to cities like Shenzhen and Beijing.