Flavorful Beef Eight Treasures

Flavorful Beef Eight Treasures

　　Flavorful Beef Eight Treasures is a specialty dish from Guilin. As the name suggests, the “eight treasures” refer to eight choice parts of the cow: beef, beef liver, beef lung, beef brain, beef tripe, beef tendon, beef intestine, and beef omasum. When eating, a richly brewed broth is used as the hot pot base. Once the broth comes to a boil, the eight treasures are added to the pot to blanch. Depending on personal preference for doneness, adjust the blanching time—do not blanch for too long as it may affect the texture. The blanched treasures are then dipped in Guilin chili sauce and paired with Guilin Sanhua wine for a delightful experience.

　　Preparation Method

　　1. Shake off any impurities from the beef omasum, spread it out on the cutting board, and neatly arrange the omasum leaves. Rinse repeatedly with water until no black membrane or fishy smell remains. Trim the edges of the omasum opening and remove the oil skin from the bottom (the side without leaves). Pair one large leaf with one small leaf, cut along the grain, then flatten and slice each pair. Soak in cold water to drain, then marinate with salt, ginger slices, pepper, food-grade alkaline powder, and cooking wine until flavorful. Slice the beef liver, beef kidney, and beef heart into thick pieces; slice the beef penis into floral patterns. Marinate all with salt, ginger, pepper, and cooking wine. Rinse the beef brain and beef spinal cord in water to remove blood sinews. Wash white radish and slice. Soak and soften the bean curd sticks, then cut into segments. Cut tofu into thick slices. Wash celery and coriander and set aside. Arrange all the above ingredients separately on serving plates.

　　2. Pour fresh broth into the hot pot, add ginger slices, scallion sections, pepper, cooking wine, salt, MSG, and chicken essence. Bring to a boil, then sprinkle with red dates and goji berries before serving. Serve the blanched ingredients such as beef omasum, beef liver, radish, and bean curd sticks alongside.

　　3. Also serve salt, beef tallow, and MSG on the table. Cook meat and vegetable ingredients as you eat, adjusting the salt and beef tallow according to the broth’s flavor intensity. Provide crushed chili condiments in individual dipping saucers—one per person—for added flavor.

　　How to Eat

　　Avoid overly sour or spicy seasonings, as strong flavors can mask the natural sweetness and umami of the beef. Some unscrupulous vendors may use heavy seasonings to cover up stale beef. Therefore, the recommended ways to enjoy it are:

　　1. Light and mild style: Use special spices that remove gaminess and enhance flavor—commonly known as “base pot ingredients” in hot pot restaurants. This style is suitable for pregnant women, elders, and children, causing no irritation to the body. It offers a sweet, fragrant, and nutritious taste without causing excessive internal heat.

　　2. Spicy and aromatic style: First, add spicy seasonings to your preference—avoid excessive spiciness and consider adding some acidic elements. Pair with a spicy dipping sauce and select premium Beef Eight Treasures. The result is spicy, sweet, crispy, and easy to eat. This style is generally more popular and suits the taste of most people.

　　Before adding the Beef Eight Treasures to the pot, bring the base broth to a boil first, then add the ingredients. Raw beef offal may carry bacteria or parasites, so ensure the treasures are fully boiled before eating. Otherwise, those with sensitive stomachs may experience diarrhea. Utensils such as chopsticks and ladles must also be rinsed with boiling water. Beef and beef tripe become tougher and harder to chew the longer they cook. Therefore, the best way to enjoy Beef Eight Treasures is to turn down or turn off the heat once the center of the pot is boiling, and reheat as needed after eating to maintain the crispness of the offal.

　　Premium Beef Eight Treasures

　　Some innovative vendors in Guilin have taken the traditional Beef Eight Treasures to the next level with a unique Premium Beef Eight Treasures. Instead of using ordinary beef offal like common omasum, this premium version selects top-quality ingredients: thick beef brisket, tender beef omasum, middle section of calf placenta, yellow beef chest meat, upper section of beef throat… All premium ingredients are combined on a single plate. The eating method remains the same, but compared to regular beef offal, it offers a crispier texture, longer-lasting flavor, and a sweet, tender appeal. Premium Beef Eight Treasures represents the essence of Guilin’s Beef Eight Treasures and truly lives up to the name “premium.” Currently, it is available only at one location—opposite the farmers' market at the terminus of Bus 32. Savor it while you can.