Xue Mian (Swirled Noodles)

Xue Mian

　　is a unique and highly favored local snack in Heyang County and the Weinan region of Shaanxi Province. With a long history, legend has it that in the third year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (204 BC), when Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, used wooden rafts to ferry troops across the Yellow River at Xiayang Ferry in Heyang and captured Wei King Bao of Hedong, he invented this noodle dish to solve the food supply problem for his 100,000 soldiers. Xue Mian can be regarded as one of the earliest forms of “instant noodles” in China. Its main ingredient is coarse grain, and once made into noodles, it can be eaten right away or stored for several days before consumption. It is also a great health-promoting convenience food that helps lower blood sugar and fat levels. (Huayin)