Dried Cucumber

Dried Cucumber

　　Dried cucumber is a traditional specialty of Pingding County. As early as over 500 years ago, it became an indispensable appetizer at local banquets. This type of dried cucumber boasts tender, emerald-green skin and flesh, with a smooth, wrinkle-free surface. When eaten, it is crisp, sweet, fragrant, and delicious. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty personally inscribed the words “Dragon Tendon” for it, and it was designated as an imperial tribute.

Dried cucumbers are mainly produced in Hetou and Houwei, several natural villages within Chengguan Town of Pingding County. The raw material used to make dried cucumbers is not ordinary cucumbers, but a special variety that has been cultivated over a long period by local farmers. These cucumbers have a smooth, spineless exterior, a pure green color, thick flesh, and minimal seeds, making them especially suitable for processing. Once processed, the dried cucumbers can be soaked in water and will resemble freshly picked cucumbers. In the cold winter months of the past, during the off-season for vegetables, serving Pingding’s “dried cucumbers” to family, friends, honored guests, and dignitaries could truly bring a touch of spring to the banquet table.

The cultivation of these cucumbers involves multiple steps. Before sowing, the seeds must be soaked in a mixture of water and coal cinder powder to encourage germination. As the vines grow, they need to be tied to trellises using soft ropes made from corn husks. Field management also requires that “even in drought, hoeing is not neglected; even in heavy rain, watering is not forgotten.” The cucumbers harvested for drying should ideally be between 45 and 54 centimeters in length.

The process of making dried cucumbers requires strict adherence to procedures. During processing, a special tool is first used to peel the cucumber skin. The cucumbers are then cut lengthwise into four strips, placed on rack rods, and baked over a stove at around 50°C. After about a day and night of baking, the dried cucumbers are ready. The baked cucumbers are bundled and sealed in large jars, allowing them to be taken out and consumed as needed. Alternatively, they can be sealed in plastic bags for long-term storage without any change in color or flavor.

Cucumbers contain sugars, glycosides, amino acids, vitamins (A, B2, C), calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that cucumbers have heat-clearing, detoxifying, and diuretic properties, making them suitable for treating conditions such as difficulty urinating, swelling in the limbs, high blood pressure, and jaundice.