Yangbi Walnut Triple Honey

Yangbi Walnut Triple Honey

　　Yangbi Walnut Triple Honey is a specialty snack from Yangbi County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is a traditional treat of the Yi people in Yangbi, often served as a ceremonial food to honor esteemed guests.

　　The first honey—“Honey Walnut Tea”—is made with wildflower honey gathered by bees from the deep valleys of Cangshan Mountain, along with slices of walnut kernels and a touch of ginger. It is an authentic, natural, green food with an incredibly sweet taste and offers health benefits such as improving digestion and quenching thirst.

　　The second honey—“Buckwheat Cake with Honey”—is another traditional Yi snack. Buckwheat cakes are made from highland buckwheat that grows in the cold, remote mountains where the Yi live. It sprouts in poor soil, thrives in drought, blossoms in bitter winds, and bears fruit in high altitudes, all while remaining untouched by air pollution. Beloved by the Yi people, they often carry buckwheat cakes when traveling. When hungry, they eat a piece and drink some mountain spring water before continuing on their way. Well-made buckwheat cakes can be stored for a month and remain edible. They also have medicinal properties—for instance, those with digestive issues or poor gut health can find relief by eating a few bites.

　　The third honey—“Walnut with Honey”—is the most distinctive dish used by the Yi people in Yangbi to entertain honored guests. Walnuts are dipped in clear, jade-like local honey, and when eaten, you can truly appreciate the flavors of fragrance, sweetness, freshness, and crispness. In ancient times during the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom eras, local rulers presented walnuts as noble and elegant tributes to the imperial court. Walnuts are also valued as a medicinal tonic; regular consumption can nourish kidneys and consolidate vitality, darken hair and beautify the complexion, replenish qi and blood, lubricate the intestines and reduce phlegm, and even promote a more toned physique.