Acidic Porridge of Pianguan

Acidic Porridge of Pianguan

　　Back in the day, when the folks in Pianguan heard that Li Zicheng had captured Ningwu and was about to reach Pianguan, every household happily soaked millet to prepare a meal to welcome the rebel army. Unexpectedly, days passed and Li Zicheng’s troops never arrived—the soaked millet turned sour. Unwilling to throw it away, the locals rinsed the sour millet, added water, and cooked it into acidic porridge.

　　　Even today, the people of Pianguan still can’t forget this story and have a special fondness for this porridge, unable to go a day without it. The so-called “acidic porridge” isn’t as sour as one might imagine—in fact, for people from Shanxi, it’s just right.

　　Source: Office of the People's Government of Pianguan County