Zhumei Local Chicken

Zhumei Local Chicken

　　The reason Zhumei Local Chicken tastes so delicious and is never tiresome to eat lies first and foremost in its ingredients. The chicken used is authentic local Sanhuang chicken. During the day, these chickens primarily feed on wild grasses, weeds, insects, and ants in the mountains and fields, and are only supplemented with mixed grains and cereals when they return to their coops in the evening. This greatly meets their nutritional needs and ensures a balanced supply of nutrition. At the same time, spending all day pecking, running, and jumping in the wild strengthens their physique and enhances their disease resistance. Such well-raised local chickens have shiny feathers, strong bodies, delicious meat, and rich nutrition. These local chickens are not fed any synthetic feed or hormones, and both the feeding duration and weight are strictly regulated—the feeding period must not exceed one year, and the weight must not exceed 3 kilograms. In addition, the pork used comes from locally raised, grain-fed pigs, with carefully selected streaky pork of moderate fat-to-lean ratio. The chili peppers used are the richly aromatic and extremely spicy Lianyuan local facing-heaven pointed chilies.

　　Secondly, the cooking technique is a crucial guarantee of the flavor of Zhumei Local Chicken. The cooking process is very particular and must not be done carelessly. When cooking, the Sanhuang chicken is first cut into large chunks, along with chicken intestines, giblets, and chicken blood. The streaky pork is sliced into large pieces—about seven or eight slices per chicken, each about the size of a small palm. The streaky pork is first stir-fried in the pan until the lean meat turns yellow and the fat renders out oil, then the chicken chunks are added and stir-fried. Cooking wine is added, and the moisture is simmered off before adding thin slices of ginger and a small spoonful of water. Green chili peppers, red chili peppers, salt, and chicken essence are added, and the dish is braised until the liquid is nearly evaporated before being taken off the heat.

　　Using this method, with local chicken, grain-fed pork, facing-heaven pointed chilies, and other ingredients, combined with unique cooking techniques, the resulting Zhumei Local Chicken has an exceptionally delicious taste, with appealing color, aroma, and flavor. It attracts diners, leaves them coming back for more, and makes them linger in delight. It’s no wonder that Zhumei Local Chicken has gained brand recognition, becoming an influential dish within the Hunan cuisine repertoire.

　　When the Zhumei Local Chicken is served at the table, the chicken skin is a pure yellow. Take a bite, and it feels richly soft and sticky, yet the meat itself is extremely tender with no hint of coarseness. As you savor it slowly, the chicken tastes remarkably sweet—naturally so. Combined with the spiciness of the chili juice, there’s not just the aroma of chicken but also a spicy fragrance. The chicken rib meat isn’t completely boneless, and chewing it slowly offers an even more satisfying eating experience. The chicken intestines in the bowl are short in length but very tender, coated in chili juice, and taste spicy and fragrant. The chicken blood is cut into small pieces, with the chili broth fully soaking into its pores, resulting in a texture that is both hot-spicy and crisp-tender. The chicken giblets are sliced thin, offering both a crisp bite and a fragrant taste. No wonder Zhumei Local Chicken enjoys a great reputation across the province, is deeply favored by consumers, and has become one of the top 100 influential brands in Loudi as well as a famous trademark of Hunan Province.

　　Nowadays, Zhumei Local Chicken restaurants have opened branches in central Hunan, and counties and cities across the province have also competed to establish eateries bearing the Zhumei Local Chicken name, making it a branded name within the Hunan cuisine industry of our province.