Xiaodongmen Huqin

Xiaodongmen Huqin

　　Xiaodongmen Huqin enjoys great fame and high reputation: its color is not yellowish-green or pale green but an inky dark green; its flavor is uniquely aromatic, lively, and carries a faint sweetness; its stems are thick and firm with little woodiness, and when sliced, they naturally break into tender flakes. Legend has it that Huqin from the bottom of Xiaodongmen has been cultivated since the Ming Dynasty, over 400 years ago, yet the planting area spans no more than 35 mu. The reason why Xiaodongmen Huqin has such a distinctive flavor is said to be twofold: first, the unique quality of the water—groundwater used for irrigation is oddly bitter and astringent; second, meticulous cultivation, including frequent weeding and watering, promotes vigorous growth, reaching heights of about two chi eight or nine cun, with yields of around ten thousand jin per mu. The Dragon Boat Festival in May and the Mid-Autumn Festival in August are the best times to taste spring and autumn Xiaodongmen Huqin. Zhangcun Eggplant (Yuanping)