Oats from Lan County

Oats from Lan County

　　This time, let’s talk about another local specialty of Lan County—oats. Everyone knows that oats come from oats grain, so why do we call it “oats” instead of “oats grain”? Want to find out? Then read on.

　　 To talk about oats, we must first discuss oats grain. It is a cereal crop, scientifically known as naked oats. It is highly nutritious, with the highest protein content among cereal crops, and contains all eight essential amino acids needed by the human body, which are also well balanced. Due to its high nutritional value and ability to keep people full and resist cold, it is considered a treasure in the western part of the autonomous region. Oats contain little sugar but are rich in protein, making them a good food for diabetics. Additionally, their fat contains a high amount of linoleic acid, making them a therapeutic food commonly used by the elderly. The nutritional value of oats is very high—the protein content averages 15.6%, which is 100% higher than rice, 75% higher than corn, 66% higher than wheat flour, and 60% higher than millet. The composition of the eight essential amino acids is relatively balanced, and the lysine content is even higher than that of rice and wheat flour. Both the fat and caloric content are high, with the fat being 5.5 times that of rice and 3.7 times that of wheat flour. In addition, it is also rich in vitamins, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients. Oats have a high flour extraction rate, generally reaching over 90%, and they absorb a lot of water—0.5 kilograms of oats can make 1 kilogram of finished product. Inner Mongolia and Shanxi (northwestern Shanxi) are the main oat-producing regions in China, and the oats from Shanxi are absolutely the best in the country.

　　 Although Lan County is also located in northwestern Shanxi and produces oats, because oats prefer cold and dry conditions, most of the oats in Lan County are grown on the highest peaks of mountainous and hilly areas. This greatly reduces the planting area, makes sowing and harvesting less convenient, and limits the crop to one harvest per year instead of two. As a result, the yield is not very high. However, it is precisely because of these growing conditions that the oats from Lan County have a taste unmatched by those from other regions and are absolutely pure, natural, and green food. If you want to taste the flavor of Lan County oats, you probably have to go there yourself, because locals have never grown it as a cash crop—they only plant it for their own consumption. In fact, many locals in Lan County can’t even get their hands on authentic local oats, as the price of locally produced oats is quite high.

　　 Alright, that’s enough about oats. By now, many of you might be dissatisfied. Why has it been nothing but textbook-like descriptions with no real substance? Heh, this article is just to explain the characteristics of the entire growth process of oats from Lan County. As for anything specifically related to eating—well, that will be covered in the food section. That’s when we won’t be talking about oats anymore...