Black Treasure -- Hair Moss

Black Treasure -- Hair Moss

　　Hair moss, called "Gaji Li Wusu" in Mongolian, means "the hair of the earth." Fresh strands appear bluish-green or olive-brown, but when dried, they turn dark black, strikingly resembling human hair

Hair moss, referred to as "Nostoc" in the *Chinese Plant Pictorial*, belongs to the algae family along with kelp and nori, but unlike them, it does not grow in water — it is a wild terrestrial algae and is considered one of the "mountain delicacies." It grows in the deserts and semi-desert grasslands of central Ningxia and the adjacent western Inner Mongolia region. Due to its hair-like appearance, it is also called "hair vegetable" or "bristle vegetable." In the *"Song of Su Wu the Shepherd"* — "Thirsty, he drank snow; hungry, he swallowed bristles; tending sheep by the Northern Sea" — the "bristles" are speculated by later generations to be this highly nutritious "bristle vegetable" that grew in the icy wilderness. Su Wu survived on it, and his story has been passed down through the ages.

China began harvesting hair moss as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, and it was exported overseas. The Qing dynasty writer Li Liweng wrote in *Idle Talk from a Leisure Studio* that one day he found a strand of hair on his table and was about to throw it away, but a servant informed him that it was a gift from a local official — the special product "hair moss." Li Liweng took it home, soaked and rinsed it in boiling water, then mixed it with ginger and vinegar to serve to guests. It had a crisp, tender texture and made a slight squeaking sound when chewed. Its flavor surpassed that of lotus root threads or deer antler seaweed. Another legend says that the wealthy merchant Wang Yuanbao became rich because he often ate hair moss. Many people imitated him, hoping to gain wealth, which greatly increased the value of hair moss. Nowadays, during New Year’s Eve reunions, overseas Chinese and Taiwanese compatriots often place a dish of this famous Chinese product — hair moss — on the banquet table. They toast each other with wishes for "prosperity," expressing not only a longing for wealth but also deep nostalgia for their homeland.

Hair moss is highly nutritious, containing 20% protein — six times that of eggs — and a variety of mineral nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Harvesting hair moss is very difficult; it is collected in the rainy season at the end of summer and beginning of autumn. After the rain, gatherers head to the desert before sunrise to pick it.

Hair moss also has medicinal value; it can help treat high blood pressure, women's health issues, and nosebleeds. Patients recovering from surgery who eat hair moss may experience faster wound healing.

Preparing hair moss is simple: soak the dried hair moss in water, rinse it clean, then cut it into short pieces. Add fresh shredded ginger and green onions, along with seasonings such as soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, and it’s ready to eat. You can also steam or pan-fry chopped hair moss with beaten eggs, let it cool, then cut it into various shapes as desired and season it. Hair moss soup is also very delicious. Famous Beijing dishes include "Stuffed Hair Moss"; Shaanxi is known for "Mixed Hair Moss"; Gansu features "Duckling with Hair Moss"; Fujian offers "Hair Moss Balls"; and Ningxia has "Money-Making Prosperity" (a dish). (Yinchuan)