Hemp Leaf Soup

Hemp Leaf Soup

　　Hemp Leaf Soup is the most distinctive local snack in the Taichung area and is rarely seen elsewhere. The way of eating Hemp Leaf Soup can be traced back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Its preparation involves stripping out the veins of the hemp leaves, then rinsing them under running water while vigorously rubbing them by hand to extract the bitter sap. Finally, they are simmered together with fish and sweet potatoes. There are several stalls selling Hemp Leaf Soup near Wude Temple, as well as a version mixed with Job’s tears called Hemp-Job’s Tears Soup. Among them, Yang Yiquan has been selling Hemp Leaf Soup for nearly 30 years, making his stall the oldest one in the area. (Taichung County)