Zhangcun Eggplant

Zhangcun Eggplant

　　The jingle “Zhangcun eggplant with ground garlic, Dongying’s gourds need not be seen” is a household phrase well known across Yuanping. What makes Zhangcun eggplant so special? Each one is a deep purple verging on black. They are uniformly sized, neither too long nor too short—large in size yet light, mature yet with thin skins. Tossed with garlic, they mash to a smooth purée with just a few stirs, and they’re also delicious whether stir-fried with meat or cooked in vegetarian dishes. In the past, when people in Inner Mongolia and Datong heard it was Zhangcun eggplant, they would rush to buy it without even asking the price. Why is Zhangcun eggplant so good? First, the growing conditions are ideal—the cultivation area lies on the alluvial fan of the Hutuo River, with thick soil layers of black loamy soil that retain moisture well; second, a unique cultivation technique called “inverted-earth eggplant” has been developed. The key points of this technique are summarized in the phrase: “first ear fruit – paired fruit – four-square battle – a whole city – random deployment.” (Yuanping)