Xiajin Silver Threads Noodles, also known as Dragon and Phoenix Noodles, are a distinctive traditional delicacy of Xiajin County, Shandong Province. Originally, they were a Zhang family heirloom noodle from the village of Zhangji in Leiji Township, with a history of over 200 years. The name was bestowed by Emperor Qianlong. These noodles are characterized by their ability to withstand long cooking times without disintegrating, their translucence, and their combination of softness, slipperiness, and chewiness. They appear thin like paper, white like jade, and small like pearls, with a refreshing, smooth, and resilient texture that glides down the throat and is gentle on the stomach.
- Name: Xiajin Silver Threads Noodles
- Category: Speciality Cuisine
- Origin: Shandong Province – Dezhou City – Xiajin County
Xiajin Silver Threads Noodles, also known as Dragon and Phoenix Noodles, are a distinctive traditional delicacy of Xiajin County, Shandong Province. Originally, they were a Zhang family heirloom noodle from the village of Zhangji in Leiji Township, with a history of over 200 years. The name was bestowed by Emperor Qianlong. Also known as “Dragon and Phoenix Noodles,” Silver Threads Noodles get their name from being rolled and cut so thinly that they resemble silver threads. If cut into small pieces, they are called Pearl Qi. They are characterized by their ability to withstand long cooking times without disintegrating, their translucence, and their combination of softness, slipperiness, and chewiness. They appear thin like paper, white like jade, and small like pearls, with a refreshing, smooth, and resilient texture that glides down the throat and is gentle on the stomach.
Origin
The Xiajin specialty Silver Threads Noodles, also known as Dragon and Phoenix Noodles, were originally a Zhang family heirloom noodle from the village of Zhangji in Leiji Township, with a history of over 200 years. Silver Threads Noodles are made by selecting high-quality fine flour and blending it with more than ten types of seasonings. The dough is rolled by hand until it's as thin as paper and then cut into fine threads to make the Silver Threads Noodles. If cut into small pieces, they become Pearl Qi. Both Silver Threads Noodles and Pearl Qi remain intact even after prolonged cooking, remaining individual strands or pieces that look like silver threads or broken jade, clear and transparent. When eaten, they are soft yet slippery and chewy. If served with sesame paste, fried bean sauce, meat strips, vinegar, garlic, and other seasonings, they have an even more distinct flavor. Currently, there are more than ten producers throughout the county, with the state-owned Xiajin Pearl Factory's “Flying Flag” brand Pearl Qi and Silver Threads Noodles being the authentic products, using carefully selected ingredients and having a unique taste, making them stand out among similar products. Today, based on traditional techniques, modern methods are used for production, improving the taste and enriching the nutritional content while increasing production volume day by day. After tasting them, Mr. Pu Jie wrote a poem in appreciation: “An ancient tree sprouts new branches; silver blossoms reveal rare beauty. Not to savor the Pearl Qi is to be unworthy of the title ‘gourmet.'”
Product Anecdote
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty undertook numerous tours to manage the empire and understand the people, famously known as his “six southern tours.”
During one such tour, returning to Beijing via the Grand Canal, he suffered from fatigue and a loss of appetite due to the journey's hardships and the change in environment. Local officials along the route tried to please him by presenting their local delicacies, but nothing seemed to pique the emperor's interest.
When the imperial barge reached Xiajin County in Shandong, the local magistrate Jin Yingdou and his officials awaited the emperor's arrival. Learning of the emperor's poor health, they presented the local specialty, Pearl Qi. Made from high-quality refined flour mixed with egg whites and various seasonings, the Pearl Qi is described as “as white as rice but smaller, shaped like phoenix eyes, truly as white as jade and as clear as pearls.” Cooked skillfully, the dish greatly appealed to Emperor Qianlong, who then summoned Magistrate Jin Yingdou to inquire about the details of the dish and granted him a poem inscribed on a fan. (Source: “Xiajin County Gazetteer” Volume 1 of the Qianlong era) Deeply grateful, Magistrate Jin Yingdou submitted a detailed report on how to prepare and cook Pearl Qi to the emperor. After reading it, Emperor Qianlong was delighted and, with his vermilion brush, changed the character for “Qi” (祺) from a wood radical to a king radical, adding a royal commendation that read, “Phoenix eyes and jade-like grains, fit for a king's palate.”
From then on, the name “Pearl Qi” became established, and the dish acquired a more elegant name, “Phoenix Eye Jade Grains Qi.”
Afterward, Emperor Qianlong ordered Xiajin County to specially produce 600 catties of Pearl Qi every year to be served at the imperial court. This became a custom, and Xiajin County continued to supply the delicacy without fail.