Red yeast rice

Red yeast rice

　　Red yeast rice is a unique, purely natural, biological, non-toxic food preservative, coloring agent, and flavor enhancer exclusive to Guozyuan Village in Midu County. Its main components are monascin and red yeast rice pigment. Due to its rose-like color and its appetizing cherry-red hue, it is called "red yeast rice" and has a history of over 600 years. Red yeast rice is made by first preparing a koji starter from 72 kinds of natural Chinese medicinal herbs. Then, cooked rice is mixed with the starter in a certain ratio and placed in a fermentation chamber, where it undergoes an 8-day fermentation process involving multiple steps and repeated procedures. It has certain therapeutic and preventive effects on high blood pressure, fatty liver, and diabetes, and also aids in digestion and strengthens the stomach. With an annual production of 7–8 tons, it is exported to Hong Kong, Singapore, and is in high demand across Southeast Asian countries. It has been featured on CCTV’s program “Wealth Creation.” The craftsmanship of red yeast rice is passed down orally, with customs such as passing it to sons but not sons-in-law, and to daughters-in-law but not daughters.