Guosheng Old Bacon

Guosheng Old Bacon

　　Guosheng Old Bacon is a specialty from Guosheng Township, Yanbian County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province. The lean part of Guosheng Old Bacon is rich red in color, while the fat part is tender white. When eaten, it gives off a rich aroma, and has a texture that is neither mushy nor tough—soft, tender, and dry-flavored, making it a suitable dish for all ages.

　　Ever wondered what life is like for the pigs in the Daze Mountains of Guosheng Township? They eat Chinese herbal medicine, drink mineral water, and live in deep mountain hermitages, growing plump and having delicate, tender skin. But they aren’t striving for immortality—just to make it to the kitchen. If they can’t become human in this life, they aim to enter the human belly, leaving behind the fragrance of their meat in the world. In the depths of winter, pigs from the Daze Mountains are selected, slaughtered, and the meat—neither too fatty nor too lean—is cured with salt, Sichuan peppercorn, and liquor, then air-dried to make Guosheng Old Bacon. This bacon features rich red lean meat and tender white fat. To prepare, char and soak the rind, wash it clean, boil for about an hour, let it cool, then slice thinly and serve on a plate. The dish is aromatic, with its red-and-white color palette stimulating the appetite. It has a texture that is neither mushy nor tough—soft, tender, and dry-flavored—making it a delicious choice for all ages.