Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger

Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger

　　Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger is a specialty of Xinhui City, produced by the "Dayou" Dried Fruit Factory, and had already gained widespread fame before the Liberation. Made from ginger as the main ingredient and processed through multiple steps, the final product comes in square, granular form, wrapped in paper resembling candy. It has a spicy yet sweet taste, is fluffy and delicious, making it an excellent gift

　　(Xinhui)

　　 Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger is a renowned specialty of Xinhui. It is made from ginger, lemon juice, dried tangerine peel, sugar, licorice, and other ingredients. Its taste is sweet, crisp, and delicious, with a balanced mix of sweetness and acidity, along with a pleasant spiciness. It leaves no residue when eaten and has a distinctive flavor. In hot weather, it can cool the throat and promote saliva production; in cold weather, it can dispel wind and cold. It also aids digestion and benefits the stomach. Travelers taking buses or boats can eat it to help prevent motion sickness. Not only is Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger a tasty food, but it also offers medicinal benefits, making it highly popular among the public. It is not only sold in Hong Kong, Macau, and major cities across China, but also exported to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and other regions, enjoying fame both at home and abroad.

　　 The origin of Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger dates back over a hundred years. It is said that during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, in Tianxin Lane, Huicheng, there was an old man named Li Zuo, who was hunchbacked and made a living by making and selling various dried fruits. Once, due to poor sales of dried fruits, the ginger Li Zuo had bought became overstocked, so he had to store it in a clay jar. His child accidentally spilled lemon vinegar into the jar filled with ginger. After some time, he noticed that all the ginger had become moldy (fermented), but he didn’t want to throw it away. So, he mixed it with powdered licorice and syrup, cooked it thoroughly in a pot, then dried it in the sun, and sold it as a dried fruit called “moldy ginger.” Unexpectedly, this “new product” was very popular with customers—people of all ages rushed to buy it—and soon the name “Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger” spread throughout the entire city. Later, due to strong product sales, dried fruit shops across Xinhui began to imitate it, with the version produced by Dayou Sauce Garden being the best. From then on, Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger became widely popular.

　　 After the Liberation, the Xinhui Dayou Dried Fruit Factory continuously researched and improved the selection of ingredients and production techniques for Ya Tuo Moldy Ginger (Xinhui Moldy Ginger). They strictly adhered to food hygiene standards to ensure the product’s specifications and quality, achieving even better taste. Coupled with attractive and elegant packaging, it has become an excellent item for personal use or as a gift.