Eryuan Carved Plum

Eryuan Carved Plum

　　Eryuan Carved Plum

　　Carved plum is a traditional and distinctive food of the Bai people. Historical records show that as far back as the Nanzhao era during the Tang Dynasty, it was common to exchange carved plums as gifts among family and friends. The name comes from the fact that patterns are carved into green plums. The production involves using salted plums as the base material. First, the plums are soaked in lime water, then removed and dried. Artisans then use carving knives to cut intricate, swirling designs into the flesh of the plum, remove the pit through the cutouts, leaving the inside hollow and latticed. The plum is then lightly pressed into a flower-like, petal-shaped form with sawtooth edges, forming a plum cake. This cake is soaked in a basin of water with a small amount of salt to neutralize the tartness, then placed in a ceramic jar and marinated for months in high-quality brown sugar and honey. Once the plum cakes achieve a golden-yellow hue, they can be taken out and consumed. The carved plum boasts a fragrant, crisp, and sweet taste—tangy yet sweet, refreshing and invigorating, stimulating the appetite and quenching thirst. It is also rich in nutrients such as vitamin C and glucose amino acids, making it a wholesome food choice.

　　Carved plum is not only a delicacy in the Dali region but also an exquisitely hand-carved craft. Eryuan County is known as the “Hometown of Plums,” and many local Bai girls learn to make carved plums from a young age. As a result, this craft is often seen as a measure of a girl’s dexterity and skill. According to local custom, before a girl gets married, she presents a tray of finely carved plums as part of her dowry gift to her future husband’s family. On the wedding night, the bride serves “fruit wine” to guests, and the artistry and flavor of the carved plums become a topic of admiration. Literary figures have even composed poems in praise of carved plums. One such poem reads: “Tiny green plums rest upon the fingertips, skillful hands shape them into jade-like chrysanthemums and orchids; steeped in honey, their flavor is divine, as if immortal blossoms have descended to the mortal realm.”