Huangmei Fish Noodles

Huangmei Fish Noodles

Huangmei Fish Noodles are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Huangmei Fish Noodles are a specialty of Huangmei County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. These noodles are as white as silver, as fine as silk, easy to cook, and can be paired with various meats and vegetables to enhance the main dish, offering a delicious taste.

　　Huangmei Fish Noodles were originally called pounded fish noodles. As a local specialty, they have been offered as a tribute to the imperial court since the Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of over a thousand years. Since their introduction, Huangmei Fish Noodles have been highly popular among diners. They offer multiple health benefits such as improving brain function, lowering blood pressure, and preventing coronary heart disease. Rich in essential nutrients like protein and calcium, these noodles are not only delicious but also tender and chewy. They are as white as silver, as fine as silk, become clearer the longer they are cooked, and turn more transparent. Easy to prepare, they can be deep-fried, stir-fried raw, or boiled hot. They can also be paired with various meats and vegetables to enhance the main dish. They store well and are beloved by the public. Their delicious taste offers the flavor of fish without an actual fishy taste—truly unique.

　　The method of making Huangmei Fish Noodles involves removing the bones and skin from fresh fish, mincing the flesh into a paste-like consistency, then mixing it with a certain proportion of starch and salt to form dough. The dough is divided into portions, rolled out into large, thin sheets about the size of a palm fan using a rolling pin, then rolled into scrolls. These are steamed over high heat in a steamer for 20–30 minutes. After steaming, they are spread out to cool, then cut horizontally into thin slices with a knife and dried in the sun to create the final product. They can be stewed alone, stewed with meat, used as the main ingredient in hot pot, or even deep-fried. When cooked, they resemble noodles, hence the name “fish noodles.” Huangmei Fish Noodles are a traditional-flavored food that is high in protein, low in fat and cholesterol, free from additives, preservatives, and artificial chemicals. This product is rich in nutrition, delicious, smooth yet not greasy, with moderate chewiness, simple cooking methods, and excellent storage properties. With multiple ways to enjoy them, they make an excellent choice for festive banquets and gifts to loved ones. Deeply cherished by locals, besides everyday consumption, they are also a favored delicacy for celebrations and gifting, hailed as the most impressive local specialty of Huangmei.

　　Huangmei County has begun to recognize its local resource advantages, conducting scientific evaluations, steadily planning, and continuously strengthening the processing industry of “niche” agricultural products. Taking aquatic products as an example, ordinary fish farming and processing seemed to have dim prospects, barely sustainable and difficult to develop. Leveraging traditional fish noodle craftsmanship and the advantage of abundant aquatic production, Huangmei County has brought fish noodle processing from rural areas to the market, forming a uniquely Huangmei-style fish noodle industry. Brands such as “Xianpin Huang,” “Erdu Mei,” and “Nian Nian You Yu” quickly gained popularity. "Xianpin Huang" was awarded the title of Hubei Provincial Famous Brand, while "Erdu Mei" Fish Noodles made their debut at the China Wuhan Agricultural Expo and won a gold award. Among them, the "Xianpin Huang" brand of Huangmei Fish Noodles, as a product of YueMei Food Co., Ltd., is actively developed by the company’s management. Upon launch, it became a hit in numerous large supermarkets across Guangdong, Jiangxi, Anhui, and within the province, quietly gaining popularity in major cities.

　　According to the Huangmei County Annals, Huangmei Fish Noodles originated in Yucun Village, Xinxin Town, with a production history of around 500 years. Premium varieties are typically made from a 1:1 mixture of fresh sturgeon meat and high-quality sweet potato starch. They are as white as silver, as fine as silk, do not congeal after prolonged cooking, are crystal clear, and offer both excellent color and taste, making them a unique delicacy historically served to guests or given as gifts. In the 1960s, the Xinxin State-Owned Aquatic Products Purchasing Station began mass-producing them. After their introduction, the noodles quickly gained popularity among diners, leading to a steady increase in fish noodle workshops in Xinxin. They offer multiple health benefits such as improving brain function, lowering blood pressure, and preventing coronary heart disease. As a low-cholesterol, all-natural green nutritional food, they are also delicious and tender. They are as white as silver, as fine as silk, become clearer the longer they are cooked, and turn more transparent. Easy to prepare, they can be deep-fried, stir-fried raw, or boiled hot. They can also be paired with various meats and vegetables to enhance the main dish. They store well and are beloved by the public.

　　The production area of Huangmei Fish Noodles covers ten administrative regions in Hubei Province: Huangmei County’s Huangmei Town, Xinxin Town, Dushan Town, Zhuogang Town, Dahe Town, Wuzu Town, Tingqian Town, Liulin Township, Shanmu Township, and Kuzhu Township.