Hequ Sour Porridge

Hequ Sour Porridge

　　Hequ Sour Porridge is a specialty dish from the Hequ region. It is said to aid digestion, strengthen the spleen, nourish the skin, and promote beauty.

　　Legend has it that when Li Zicheng's rebel army passed through this area on their way to Beijing, the local people were overjoyed. Every household soaked rice to prepare meals for the soldiers. However, due to a change in plans, the army altered its route and bypassed the area. But the locals had soaked too much rice, which they couldn’t finish in time, and it turned sour after being left for too long.

　　Reluctant to throw it away, they cooked the sour rice into porridge. To their surprise, they found that the sourness did not affect its edibility. Later, people began to intentionally soak the rice until it turned sour and then used it to make porridge.