Zhen'an Cured Meat

Zhen'an Cured Meat

　　Cured meat, also known as smoked meat, is a specialty of Zhen'an in Shangluo and a traditional delicacy used by locals for hosting guests and giving gifts. Every winter during the lunar months of December and January, every household in Zhen'an makes cured meat. Fresh meat is first marinated with various seasonings, undergoes multiple processing steps, and is finally slowly smoked over fire. The cured meat has a consistent color and texture inside and out. Once cooked and sliced, it becomes transparent and shiny, with a bright red hue. It has a rich and fragrant taste—rich parts are not greasy, lean parts are not tough. Zhen'an cured meat is often praised as “one family cooks the meat, and the aroma fills a hundred homes,” and it also has the characteristic of staying fresh for a long time without spoiling.