Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle

Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle

　　Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle is a specialty dish from Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County in Hainan Province. It is one of the most famous dishes in Hainan, with its reputation even reaching Southeast Asia. The delicious Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle, paired with the mellow Shanlan wine, has won over the taste buds of many tourists.

　　Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle, also known as "venison" or "wild beef" among the Li ethnic cuisine, differs from cattle in other regions. All Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle are free-range, raised by the Li people on high mountains above 800 meters altitude, where they feed on tree leaves. Every week or even once a month, the herders go up the mountain and use their unique calling method to lead the herd, guided by the lead cow, to a designated spot to lick salt.

　　The differences between Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle and other cattle mainly lie in three aspects:

　　1. The Yellow Cattle are small in size, with a one-and-a-half-year-old yielding only about 20–30 pounds of lean meat;

　　2. The cattle are entirely free-range, naturally fierce in temperament, and completely wild and unpolluted;

　　3. They grow up eating salt and various tree leaves, some of which contain medicinal herbs. As a result, the beef has fine muscle fibers, a deep red color, low moisture content, and is especially beneficial to health. The best-tasting cattle are around 12 months old, with crispy and tender hides. Qiongzhong Yellow Cattle

　　Cooking Methods for Yellow Cattle:

　　Traditionally, the Li people roast the Yellow Cattle over charcoal. Nowadays, there are many new methods, such as slicing larger cuts for steak, imitating Korean cuisine to make teppanyaki, or simmering the meat in a medicinal broth to create marinated beef. An upgraded traditional method is bamboo tube beef, where leftover trimmings are chopped and stuffed into bamboo tubes along with seasonings like black pepper, curry powder, and lemongrass powder. After roasting for 15 to 20 minutes until the moisture is just right, the fragrant bamboo tube beef is ready to enjoy.