Gantang Fenli

Gantang Fenli

　　“Gantang Fenli” is a specialty from Gantang Town, Binyang County, Guangxi. Most Gantang Fenli are made into cylinders about 4 cm in radius and around 25 cm long, white in color. For aesthetic purposes, locals often tie several small skewers into flower-like shapes, dip them in “red flower powder,” and stamp a few “flowers” onto the top surface of the Fenli as if sealing it. Its main ingredients come from the high-quality rice produced in Gantang Town. The product is made entirely using traditional manual methods, which is why the finished Fenli is known for being fine-textured, tender, smooth, refreshing, and resistant to overcooking. It enjoys a great reputation both within and outside the region and has become a delicious traditional food for the people of Gantang Town during the Lunar New Year.

　　Binyang Fenli is made by finely grinding high-quality rice into a paste, kneading it into small cylinders, steaming them until about 80% cooked, then taking them out to dry. Binyang Fenli can be enjoyed either lightly or with stronger flavors. It can serve as a light, convenient breakfast or a palate-cleansing dish during the Lunar New Year when one has had too much greasy food. It can also be stir-fried dry—during the cooking process, you can add seasonings according to your preference such as oil, salt, soy sauce, chili, vinegar, garlic, and chopped scallions. You can also mix in some pre-stir-fried vegetables and sliced meat.

　　Additionally, Fenli carries very good symbolism. For farmers, after the autumn harvest and with grain stored away, the weather turns cold and there’s not much left to do before the New Year. Everyone gathers around the fireplace, laughing and preparing the essential “New Year goods”—Fenli—while cheerfully chatting about the year’s hard work, harvest, and joys. To them, Fenli represents harmony among people and mutual respect and affection between neighbors. The origin of the name “Fenli” is as follows: Fenli is made from rice flour. To usher in good fortune before the New Year and ensure a smooth year ahead, ancestors imbued this simple food with their heartfelt wishes and named it “Fenli.”