Miaotou Qianzhang

Miaotou Qianzhang

　　Miaotou Qianzhang is a specialty of Miaotou Town, Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. It is a traditional local food product made using time-honored techniques in Miaotou Town, renowned for its delicate thinness, flexibility, fragrant purity, elasticity, and excellent texture.

　　Qianzhang, also known as Baiye (or “hundred sheets/leaves”), is a type of soy product. Miaotou Qianzhang has been registered under the “Blue Ocean” brand trademark, with its products entering the national market and earning the title of “Local Famous & High-Quality Product” in Suqian City. The origins of Miaotou Qianzhang are difficult to trace, but it is known that the great Qing Dynasty poet Yuan Mei mentioned tofu and qianzhang from “the west of Shuyang” in his writings. In his book "Suiyuan Shidan" (Recipes from the Sui Garden), he advocated using delicacies to season Shuyang tofu or qianzhang, which indicates that by the years 1743–1745 (the 8th to 10th years of Emperor Qianlong’s reign), when Yuan Mei was in charge of Shuyang, the tofu and qianzhang from “the west of Shuyang” already had a reputation. The origin of the “west of Shuyang” qianzhang is also unclear. It is only known that during the late Qing Dynasty, there were two renowned qianzhang producers in Miaotou Town and Gaoliu Town, both located northwest of Shuyang County — one surnamed Zhong in Miaotou Town and the other surnamed Shi in Gaoliu Town. Around the time of the founding of the Republic of China, Zhong, the master qianzhang maker from Miaotou Town, “sold” his qianzhang press along with his craft to the Cao family of Lengzhuang. Cao Yu’an from Lengzhuang became the successor of the Cao family’s qianzhang tradition, with 51 out of 54 households in the group producing qianzhang using the traditional process. While other regions produce about 90 sheets per press, Miaotou produces between 130 and 170 sheets. The production process is free from additive contamination, making it a green food product. It can be used in a variety of dishes, is rich in iron, calcium, and various vitamins, and is an excellent choice for home use, banquets, or as a gift.