Tianjin specialties count the Eight Treasures

Tianjin specialties count the Eight Treasures

　　The so-called "Eight Treasures" of Tianjin refer to traditional local specialties that have been famous for centuries. They are not only beloved by tourists but also exert an indescribable allure on native Tianjiners. As the name suggests, the "Eight Treasures" are eight types of food: whitebait, purple crab, sparrow, shrimp, yellow sprouting Chinese cabbage, Chinese chives, green radish, and pear. Some can be served as dishes or delicacies, while others make for great "snacks" to aid digestion after meals

　　1. Whitebait and Purple Crab Both whitebait and purple crab are migratory species that spawn in the sea and grow in freshwater rivers. They are rare varieties among river crabs and are renowned aquatic delicacies both in China and abroad. Tianjin is famous for producing whitebait and purple crab

　　2. Sparrow Unlike "house sparrows," "sparrows," or "old thieves" (common names for sparrows), the iron sparrow is smaller in size, with black claws and dark brown feathers featuring indistinct patterns. They often fly in groups in the outskirts foraging for food. By the harsh winter season, their feathers become fuller, and their meat becomes tender and delicious — a prized "delicacy"

　　3. Shrimp The term refers to their very short life span, existing only around the Spring Festival and gone in the blink of an eye. This type of shrimp is not only delicious and tender but also has a pinkish-white color, resembling a "baby’s face." Prepared as "scalded shrimp," "blanched shrimp," or "shrimp waist," it is considered a high-end delicacy

　　4. Radish

　　This refers to the green radish sold in Tianjin during the deep winter. Tianjin green radishes are known for being both high-quality and affordable, sweet, crisp, and pleasant to the taste. If dropped accidentally on the ground, they can break into several pieces. They are a great post-dinner treat during the cold winter months. In addition to aiding digestion and relieving alcohol and phlegm, boiled radishes can also soothe the throat and lungs. There is a Tianjin folk saying: "Radish and tea send doctors crawling all over the streets." This means eating radish with tea can help with digestion and prevent illness, eliminating the need to visit a doctor

　　5. Chinese Chives A type of Chinese chive. A bunch of chives is stacked in a vegetable cellar with their roots buried in manure and soil. By the time of the Spring Festival, many yellow sprouts emerge from within. When cut and used for making dumplings, they are incredibly flavorful. On Chinese New Year's Eve, Tianjiners traditionally eat dumplings stuffed with Chinese chives, which boast an aromatic taste

　　6. Yellow Sprouting Chinese Cabbage

　　Chinese cabbage comes in both green and white leaf varieties. Among them, the green leaf variety with "walnut-patterned" leaves is considered the finest dish. It is highly nutritious, containing vitamin C, carotene, sugar, protein, and other components

　　Li Lou in the western suburbs of Tianjin is one of the famous production areas for yellow sprouting Chinese cabbage. Every winter, families in Tianjin store cabbages, which gradually sprout tender shoots inside the core. These shoots are pale yellow and sweet in taste, hence the name "yellow sprouting cabbage." It is considered a top-grade vegetable

　　7. Pear (pronounced "Hái Lí")

　　The character "孩" (hái) is pronounced like "duck" (yā), commonly known as "duck pear." The pear was once a specialty of Botown in Hebei Province. Due to the region’s favorable soil and water, the pears are large with thin skins, golden in color, crisp, sweet, juicy, and can be stored for long periods. However, Botown is just a small riverside town — how could it compete with the fame of a well-connected distribution hub like Tianjin? Hence, it came to be known as the "Tianjin duck pear" and was exported overseas. In reality, it was the famed specialty of Botown that was "borrowed" for Tianjin’s reputation. Nevertheless, in recent years, thanks to advancements in fruit tree cultivation techniques, Tianjin has indeed become a producer of duck pears

　　(Tianjin)