Zhijin Faba

Zhijin Faba

　　Zhijin Faba is a specialty food from Zhijin County in Bijie City, Guizhou Province. Widely renowned, Zhijin Faba originates from “Jiuduitou” (a place name) in the county town of Zhijin. It is made from premium glutinous rice, fermented, and then steamed to perfection. The finished product is as white as clouds and as soft as a sponge, offering a naturally sweet and fragrant taste that lingers delightfully on the palate.

　　The production of Zhijin Faba is quite refined. First, high-quality white glutinous rice is selected and cleaned thoroughly to remove any sand or impurities using water from Longtan Spring. The rice is then soaked in clean water for three to six hours until the grains become plump. Once softened, the water is drained and the wet rice is ground into a smooth rice paste. Next, the rice paste is filtered to remove any solid particles, then sugar is added. The mixture is fermented, stirred evenly, and poured into specially designed steamers. When the water in the steamer comes to a boil, the steamer is placed inside, covered, and steamed over high heat for about 40 minutes. After steaming, the Faba can be taken out and cut into small pieces for eating. Faba can be found just about everywhere, but Zhijin Faba is famous for its uniquely delightful taste. Is it due to the sweetening effect of the Longtan Spring water? Or perhaps because the Faba embodies the wisdom and delicate touch of the people of Zhijin? Either way, its flavor is undeniably better than that of Faba from other places.

　　If you want to try the most authentic Zhijin Faba, you absolutely must visit “Maji Faba Shop” and taste the Faba made by this long-established and widely acclaimed old shop. It’s said that their Faba has even been featured on CCTV, which speaks volumes about its fame. I’m not entirely sure when or how Maji Faba Shop was first founded, but locals say it’s been around for quite some time. The shop is tucked away in a small alley, and its unassuming storefront doesn’t catch your eye at first glance. Here, you won’t hear any loud sales pitches. Maji Faba is only sold in the morning. But don’t let the hidden location fool you—the aroma of the cakes travels far, drawing many visitors from out of town who go out of their way, sometimes driving dozens of kilometers, just to buy the first batch of the day. At the break of dawn, you can see the shop owner lifting out a steaming basket of freshly made Faba. The moment it’s taken out of the steamer, the rich fragrance of Faba fills the entire room, detectable even from a distance. The Faba, piled up on the cutting board, is fluffy, plump, and elastic. Though it may not look particularly fancy, its taste is exceptional—and leaves no greasy residue, only the refreshing aftertaste of a wonderful memory. As time goes by, “Maji Faba Shop” has been passed down through generations. What remains unchanged is the shop’s distinctive selection of ingredients and its tradition of purely handcrafted production.