Gaoliang Beef Jerky

Gaoliang Beef Jerky

　　Gaoliang Beef Jerky is a specialty of Gaoliang Township, Shizong County, Qujing City, Yunnan Province. It is made from the premium leg meat of sturdy yellow cattle, marinated with salt, chili, and other seasonings, then slow-roasted over charcoal. The charred parts are removed, and the meat is pounded vigorously with a wooden stick before being hand-torn into shreds. It has a deliciously spicy and rich flavor.

　　When talking about Gaoliang Zhuang-style beef jerky, one must first start with the Gaoliang cattle.

　　It is said that these cattle are free-range on the slopes and valleys of Gaoliang, roaming and grazing in the wild for most of the year. Even during winter when they are brought back home by their owners, they are only fed corn and coarse bran. As a result, the beef is tender, flavorful, and fresh-colored. High-quality ingredients form the foundation of great food, and when you take into account the traditional methods the Zhuang people use to marinate and roast the beef, it's no wonder such small pieces of jerky are so incredibly tasty. To make the beef jerky, sturdy yellow cattle are first slaughtered, cut into strips, and then coated with a mixture of herbs, salt, ginger powder, star anise powder, tsaoko powder, Sichuan pepper powder, and chili powder. This mixture is rubbed thoroughly into the meat strips before they are placed in a basin to marinate for three hours. Then, the meat is slowly roasted over charcoal until all internal moisture has evaporated. Each delicious piece is the result of time and patience.

　　As for how to enjoy it, there’s no fixed way to eat Gaoliang Beef Jerky—you can fry it, boil it, or even roast it over an open flame. Although there are many ways to prepare it, none are complicated. For example, boiled beef jerky is thinly sliced, fried, and then simmered in a soup made with sour bamboo shoots for 10 minutes before serving. Roasted beef jerky, on the other hand, involves placing the beef strips in the ashes of a charcoal fire to roast until cooked. Once taken out, the ash is shaken off, and when the meat becomes tender, the jerky is torn into shreds and placed in a bowl to be mixed with ingredients such as wild herbs, mint, and chili. Roasted beef jerky is fragrant, crispy, and uniquely delicious—a rare treat that can also be packed for snacking.