White Sage Noodles

White Sage Noodles

　　Sand sage is a perennial semi-shrub of the genus Artemisia in the Asteraceae family. It has a well-developed taproot that extends more than 3 meters into the soil, with abundant lateral roots densely spread throughout the 10–70 cm sand layer. The stem is erect, thick at the base, growing 50–120 cm tall, with 10–30 clustered branches. In its first or second year, the bark is grayish-white, turning grayish-brown as it matures. The leaves are gray-green with short pubescence when young, the lower leaves being larger and bipinnately dissected. The lobes are linear, 1.5–3 cm long and about 1 mm wide. The upper leaves are smaller and either tripartite or entire. The inflorescences are numerous, about 2–3 mm in diameter, arranged in compound racemes, with short stalks and linear bracts. The involucre is oval, 3 mm long, with 3–4 layers of broadly ovate involucral bracts that have wide membranous margins. There are over 10 flowers, with the outer ones being female and fertile, and the inner ones bisexual and sterile. The achenes are fine, hairless, and coffee-colored, covered with a layer of white, gel-like polysaccharide substances that make up 20% of the seed’s weight. These swell easily upon contact with water and clump with sand particles to form naturally large-grained seeds, which facilitate water absorption and storage, promote germination, and enable sprouting within three days under suitable conditions. The thousand-seed weight is 0.8–1.0 grams.

　　 The White Sage Noodles produced by Yudai Food Factory in Jiangbei District, Chongqing, use white sage from Northwest China as an additive, enhancing the nutritional value of the noodles. This product contains essential amino acids such as protein, fat, soluble sugars, crude fiber, as well as calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, B2, and more. It helps lower blood lipids, prevent arteriosclerosis, aid digestion, and has dietary therapeutic effects for weight loss.