Dipping Sauce

Dipping Sauce

　　The dietary habits of the Yi people in Eshan are largely similar to those of the local Han Chinese. During the Dragon Boat Festival, they make zongzi and steamed buns; on the Mid-Autumn Festival, they prepare steamed cakes, while the Lusu people make buckwheat cakes. Every Spring Festival, every household pounds glutinous rice or fragrant rice cakes. The staple grains are mainly rice, corn, and wheat. Traditional cuisine emphasizes roasting, grilling, stir-frying, boiling, and steaming. Boiled beef, mutton, and dog meat are often served with a unique seasoning, commonly known as "dipping sauce," which is favored when eating. The ingredients for making dipping sauce include chili peppers, ginger, scallions, garlic, toon fruit, Sichuan peppercorns, and mint, giving it a spicy and delicious flavor. During festivals, when the Lusu people eat beef, they boil and slice the meat, then pile it on freshly gathered pine needles. The entire village gathers around the meat pile, and an elderly, respected person leads the communal meal. This ancient custom symbolizes the friendship and unity of the whole village, and some villages still maintain this tradition today.