Dried Bamboo Shoots of Qingyuan

Dried Bamboo Shoots of Qingyuan

　　Dried Bamboo Shoots of Qingyuan

　　Dried bamboo shoots from Qingyuan come in several varieties: bright dried bamboo shoots, dark dried bamboo shoots, shredded bamboo shoots, and sliced bamboo shoots, among which bright dried bamboo shoots are the most famous. The production of bright bamboo shoots has a long history. Legend has it that in ancient times, during one spring, a strong wind blew down a maple tree, pressing fresh bamboo shoots between the rocks. By June, when a

　　farmer was gathering firewood, he discovered the shoots flattened under the tree. He took them home, soaked them in water to rehydrate them, and found them fresh and delicious. The farmer thought,

　　if all bamboo shoots were pressed flat, they would be easier to store and transport. So he made a bamboo shoot press to flatten the fresh shoots.

　　People saw that his method worked well and began to imitate it, continuing the practice to this day.

　　The bright bamboo shoots produced in Qingyuan are wax-yellow in color, shaped like flattened fish. When tapped,

　　they

　　make a sound, are easy to package and transport, have sufficient dryness, and are highly resistant to spoilage. Bamboo shoot farmers grade the finished bright bamboo shoots by quality into: phoenix tail, goat horn, yellow ox, and deputy tip, with phoenix tail being the best. The production of dark dried bamboo shoots is

　　simpler than that of bright dried bamboo shoots. Fresh bamboo shoots are first stripped of their sheaths, then boiled in alkaline water (such as wood ash), and dried with smoke for the best results. Other types of dried bamboo shoots are made by

　　taking fresh shoots, removing the sheaths, boiling them, and then either shredding them into strips or slicing them before drying or baking them into the final product. During festivals and holidays, people often prepare some dried bamboo shoots, cooking them into a variety of delicious dishes to enjoy. Especially when they've had too much greasy food, they deliberately eat some dried bamboo shoots to prevent indigestion.

　　Fresh bamboo shoots are harvested. The outer sheaths are removed, then the shoots are boiled. After cooking, they are either shredded into strips or sliced, and then dried in the sun or by baking to make dried bamboo shoots. During holidays and festivals, people often prepare some dried bamboo shoots, turning them into a variety of delicious dishes to enjoy. Especially when they’ve had too much greasy food, they deliberately eat some dried bamboo shoots to prevent indigestion.