Lianshui Qianzhang

Lianshui Qianzhang

Lianshui Qianzhang is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　【Lianshui Qianzhang】 Mainly produced in the areas of Nanji, Xiji, and Huangying in Lianshui County. Since the Western Han Dynasty, when Liu An, the King of Huainan, invented tofu, the method of making qianzhang has spread to northern Jiangsu. Lianshui Qianzhang is made from locally grown soybeans (Huaidou No. 1). Huaidou No. 1 was developed by the Huaiyin Agricultural Science Research Institute in the Xuhuai Region of Jiangsu Province. It is highly suitable for growing in Lianshui’s alkaline soil. The soybean variety exhibits strong germination vigor, steady growth, and large, ovate leaves, along with resistance to viruses and lodging. It takes 90 to 100 days from sowing to harvest, yielding 30 to 32 pods per plant, with 3 to 4 beans per pod, and the fresh weight of 100 beans ranges from 50 to 55 grams. Qianzhang, scientifically known as tofu skin and also called “hundreds of leaves,” has an appearance as white as jade, as thin as paper, and as tough as cloth. Its flavor resembles that of mushrooms, making it a local specialty of Lianshui. With a long-standing production technique, it is a widely loved soy product in daily life. Lianshui Qianzhang is made by grinding locally unique soybeans into pulp, boiling it in a pot, adding brine, and pressing it with gauze. Adding the brine is the crucial step in the production process—the quality of the brine directly affects the quality and texture of the qianzhang. The brine used in Lianshui Qianzhang is refined from nitre extracted from the local saline-alkali land, differing from the gypsum commonly used in other soy products. As a result, the final product is bright in color, fine in texture, strong in toughness, and delicious in taste, making it a renowned soy product. Lianshui Qianzhang is rich in protein, vitamins, trace elements, lecithin, and various minerals. Per 100 grams, it contains 20 to 25 milligrams of vitamin B1, 1 to 2 milligrams of vitamin B2, 16 to 18 milligrams of vitamin E, along with abundant niacin, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium. Lianshui Qianzhang is suitable for individuals who are physically weak, malnourished, suffering from dual deficiency of qi and blood, diabetes, or postpartum women with insufficient breast milk—especially the elderly. It helps prevent osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and offers heart protection, making it highly favored by many.