Guanyin Vegetable of Nankun Mountain

Guanyin Vegetable of Nankun Mountain

　　　Guanyin Vegetable of Nankun Mountain, also known as "stone garlic," resembles orchid leaves in appearance—vibrantly green and pollution-free. When eaten, it first tastes like leek, then successively gives flavors of garlic, scallion, slight bitterness, and sweetness. It has the effect of clearing dampness and removing blood stasis. Because eating Guanyin Vegetable requires slow chewing and savoring, it is believed to have certain benefits for facial beauty.

　　　　There are many spring delicacies, but Longmen’s "Guanyin Vegetable" is particularly precious because fresh Guanyin Vegetable can only be tasted in Nankun Mountain, Longmen. Friends traveling to Nankun Mountain in Longmen this spring must not miss out on this rare treat.

　　　　There is a beautiful legend about Guanyin Vegetable

　　　　Speaking of Guanyin Vegetable, there is a beautiful legend. It is said that one year, Nankun Mountain suffered a once-in-several-hundred-years drought. The fields cracked, streams dried up, crops withered, and farmers had no harvest—the scene was heartbreaking. The local people carried offerings such as pigs and chickens to pray to heaven and earth, but to no avail. Just when people were at their wits' end, the matter moved the heavens, and the Jade Emperor sent Guanyin Bodhisattva to investigate. Riding on auspicious clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva arrived at Nankun Mountain and saw a barren land with people wailing loudly. Moved with compassion, she took out her nectar bottle, dipped her horsetail whisk in nectar, and sprinkled it upon the mortal realm. Instantly, heavy rain poured down on Nankun Mountain, relieving the crisis. Streams swelled, and the fields were nourished. At the same time, patches of stone chives sprouted beside rocky outcrops and along mountain streams. People survived the crisis by eating these stone chives. Later, to commemorate Guanyin Bodhisattva, they named the stone chives "Guanyin Vegetable."

　　　　But some say that the wild origin of Guanyin Vegetable is not Nankun Mountain in Longmen, but Shiju Ridge, the second highest peak in Guangdong at an altitude of 1888.8 meters in Ruyuan Nanling. Shiju Ridge got its name because the mountain is covered with "stone chives" growing in crevices. At some unknown time, mountain springs or floods washed the stone chives from Shiju Ridge and carried them downstream to Nankun Mountain’s Shizi Shui area. Surrounded by mountains, with murmuring springs, lush vegetation, and lingering mist, the environment at Shizi Shui allowed the "stone chives" to take root here.

　　　　Guanyin Vegetable is rich in various nutrients

　　　　Guanyin Vegetable grows in unpolluted places such as by mountain streams and is a perennial herbaceous plant with relatively wide leaves and slightly higher fiber content. There are many descriptions of Nankun Mountain’s Guanyin Vegetable. Some say it looks like orchid leaves, some say it resembles garlic, others say it looks like scallions, and still others say it looks like leeks.

　　　　In fact, this wild delicacy is a type of lily family plant, combining the fragrances of leek, garlic, and scallion. When eaten, it first tastes like leek, then successively gives flavors of garlic, scallion, with slight bitterness and sweetness.

　　　　The nutritional value of Guanyin Vegetable is something many people don’t know. It is rich in protein, iron, and fiber. It can cleanse the intestines and strengthen the waist and kidneys, fulfilling men’s desire to "stay strong" while satisfying women’s wish to "give their intestines a good wash."

　　　　Guanyin Vegetable is best picked at the rise of morning mist

　　　　Guanyin Vegetable has its peculiarities—it cannot survive outside of Nankun Mountain. It is said that someone once tried planting it elsewhere, but the taste was far inferior to that grown in its native place. Therefore, some say that true Guanyin Vegetable is one that "lives in Nankun Mountain and grows up drinking its mountain spring water."

　　　　Guanyin Vegetable has a crisp texture, and the time at the rise of morning mist is also the most suitable for harvesting it. At this time, the vegetable is at its most hydrated during the day, making the leaves particularly crisp. The chefs at Nankun Mountain’s Shizi Shui pay attention to the word "water" throughout the process—from harvesting to cooking—ensuring that moisture remains in the fibers of the Guanyin Vegetable.

　　　　Generally, the Guanyin Vegetable eaten in Nankun Mountain is stir-fried. But in fact, there are many ways to enjoy it. According to locals in Nankun Mountain, Guanyin Vegetable can be used to fry eggs, served cold, made into soup, or even wrapped in dumplings.