Jijie Water-Soaked Pears

Jijie Water-Soaked Pears

　　Water-soaked pears are made by cleaning tart pears picked from the deep mountains, then soaking them in jars with traditional Chinese herbs. These pears are not only uniquely flavorful and delicious but also aid digestion, promote saliva production, and quench thirst—making them highly popular with tourists. The pears are uniformly sized, with thin skins and thick, sweet flesh. Most importantly, water-soaked pears help clear the lungs and reduce internal heat, which is why they are especially loved by the people of Jijie.

The making of water-soaked pears takes place during the annual fruit ripening season. Fresh, intact, small honey pears from Jianshui and small tart pears and gourd pears from Jijie are specially purchased, carefully selected, and then soaked in clay jars or large urns. Using pure local mountain spring water and adding appropriate amounts of licorice, salt, and other ingredients, the pears are left to soak for over two months before they can be unsealed for consumption or sale.