Basic Introduction to Zhenghe Sweet ChestnutZhenghe Sweet Chestnut is a specialty of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, Fujian Province. It is a regionally competitive industry in Zhenghe County, with strong adaptability and resistance, as well as high yield, stable production, and longevity. It is an industry that benefits for a hundred years after one planting, and the people of Zhenghe County refer to sweet chestnuts as the "money tree." Nutritional ValueAccording to "Compendium of Materia Medica," sweet chestnuts have effects such as tonifying the kidneys and qi, treating paralysis of the legs and feet, diarrhea due to internal cold, and promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis.1. Sweet chestnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, and other minerals, as well as B vitamins, which can help prevent hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and osteoporosis in the elderly.2. The riboflavin component in sweet chestnuts has a good therapeutic effect on common oral ulcers.3. Sweet chestnuts contain a large amount of carbohydrates, which can promote the metabolism of fats in the body, provide heat to the body, protect against winter cold entering the stomach, and have the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach.4. Sweet chestnuts are rich in vitamin…

Basic Introduction to Minqin Honeydew Melon Minqin honeydew melon, produced in Minqin County, Gansu Province, has a planting history of over 50 years, and its product quality surpasses that of similar products elsewhere. It was rated as a high-quality agricultural product in the province in 1992, and it received certification as a “green food” from the National Green Food Development Center. In 1995, it was awarded the title of “Time-honored Brand of China” by the Ministry of Domestic Trade of the People's Republic of China. It won the gold medal at the 1999 Kunming World Horticultural Exposition in Yunnan and received first prize for recommended fruit for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, with the county designated as a national melon production base. As a result, Minqin is known as the "Land of Melons." Minqin is renowned nationwide as the “Land of Melons.” Its inland desert climate, characterized by long hours of sunlight and significant day-night temperature differences, along with sandy soil conditions and the widespread use of non-polluting farming techniques, makes its yellow and white honeydew melons popular in domestic and international markets for their jade-green flesh and sweet aroma. These melons are widely loved by consumers as "aromatic" and…

Ilia Anfilatov (R) and Syyra Alee take videos at a cultural park in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. International students Ilia Anfilatov from Russia and Syyra Alee from Pakistan have been studying at Southwest University in Chongqing for over a year. In their spare time, they enjoy strolling around the city and sharing their experiences on social media. Through their sharing, many of their friends and families are attracted by the beautiful scenery and diverse culture of China and plan to embark on a trip to China and explore the country by themselves in the near future. Recently, "China Travel" has become a trending search term on multiple global social media platforms as international tourists are flocking to China's famed scenic spots and sharing their experiences online. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Syyra Alee (R) and Ilia Anfilatov enjoy local food at a cultural park in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Ilia Anfilatov and Syyra Alee take videos at a popular tourist destination in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Ilia Anfilatov (L) and Syyra Alee take videos of Chinese tea at…

The scallion oil clam is one of the most popular ways to cook clams, which are actually small white cockles, scientifically known as Ruditapes philippinarum. Clams have many other names, and they may be called differently in different places. You might need to ask around when you buy them at the market.How to Make Scallion Oil ClamIngredients Preparation300 grams of clams, an appropriate amount of minced garlic and chopped scallions, soy sauce, cooking wine, oil, and sugar.Steps1. Soak the clams in clean water for half an hour to purge any sand or mud, then wash and drain them.2. In a wok, add half a bowl of boiling water, one tablespoon of oil, two tablespoons of soy sauce, a little salt, two tablespoons of cooking wine, a little sugar, and minced garlic.3. Pour in the clams, shake the pan to mix well, cover, and steam for 2 minutes. After they open, sprinkle with chopped scallions and remove from heat.4. Heat another tablespoon of oil until very hot and pour it over the scallions.TipsAvoid stirring too much, or the meat will separate from the shells.Home-Style Scallion Oil ClamIngredients Preparation300 grams of clams, an appropriate amount of scallions, ginger slices, small red chili…

Basic Introduction to San Kuai Shi Large Kernel HazelnutsThe San Kuai Shi Large Kernel Hazelnuts are produced in Fushun County, Liaoning Province. The region is situated in a transitional zone from low mountains and hills to plains. The eastern, southeastern, and northeastern areas have high terrain, while the western, southwestern, and northwestern parts are slightly gentler. The entire landscape slopes gently from east to west, with the central area being the Hun River valley. The average elevation is 100-300 meters, characterized by rolling hills, dense forests, and crisscrossing rivers. The topographical feature can be described as “seven parts mountain, one part water, half a part fields, and half a part roads and estates.” Fushun County is located within the sub-humid temperate zone and has a continental monsoon climate. The seasons are distinct, with rain and heat occurring simultaneously. The annual average temperature is 7.8°C. The average temperature in January is -14°C, with the lowest recorded temperature being -35.2°C; the average temperature in July is 24°C, with the highest temperature reaching 35.8°C. The annual average precipitation is 823 millimeters, mostly concentrated in July, August, and September, with a frost-free period of about 145 days, suitable for hazelnut cultivation.As of February 6,…

Basic Introduction of Pangu Mountain Sweet Potato DriedSweet potato dried, also known as yam dried, is best when grown in Pangu Mountain, Yudu, with the ones from Chazi being the finest. Every autumn after the rice harvest, locals dig up sweet potatoes planted in the fields and store them indoors. When winter comes after the busy farming season, they start drying sweet potatoes in front of their houses. Nutritional ValueIt is rich in glucose and vitamins A, B, C, D, as well as trace elements such as copper, phosphorus, and iron. It is a physiologically alkaline food that can help regulate the physiological acidity of rice, flour, and meat. It replenishes qi and blood, benefits the liver and spleen, removes stasis toxins, soothes meridians, and has a constipation-preventing and anti-cancer effect. As a health-promoting and fatigue-relieving food, it is nutritionally complete. Within its shelf life, a layer of white sugar frost forms on the surface, enhancing its flavor. Product FeaturesThe features of the inverted-steamed sweet potato dried from Pangu Mountain are: the sweet potato dried appears transparent, is clean and hygienic, fragrant, sweet, chewy, and nutrient-rich. Preparation MethodSelect white-skinned sweet potatoes, wash them thoroughly, then peel them and cut into…

Paul Ryan, a US doctor studying traditional Chinese medicine in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, treats a girl with sanfutie plaster, in July, 2012. [Photo provided to China Daily]Traditional Chinese medicine has won more recognition in Western countries in recent years, but the 5,000-year-old medical science still needs a modern interpretation to break into the mainstream Western market.According to the Beijing-based World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, more TCM clinics have opened in the West and more colleges are starting to offer TCM education, but TCM has not attained legal status in many countries.In some countries, TCM is considered a food supplement rather than having medicinal effects, it added.A major reason that TCM is not widely acknowledged in these countries is a lack of research on TCM such as its pharmaceutical details and its interaction with other medicines, according to the federation.The number of registered TCM practitioners worldwide is estimated at about 500,000.A cooperative project between the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia is trying to combine TCM with modern interpretations of ancient documents and high-level clinical research.US students in a university in Shandong province learn about Chinese traditional medicine on June 27 in…

China now has entered Zhongfu, the second phase of Sanfu. In the Chinese lunar calendar, Sanfu refers to the three 10-day periods that are predicted to be the hottest days of the year, which are called Toufu, Zhongfu and Mofu.Sanfu usually comes between mid-July to mid-August. Let's take a look at the traditional Chinese ways of spending the dog days of summer.Receiving the SanfutieSanfutie, or Sanfu medicinal patch, is a bandage made of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believe that receiving Sanfutie during the hottest summer days is effective for coughs, asthma and arthritis; it is a patchwork solution for winter ills in summer.The treatment is based on the TCM principle of yin and yang, which believes the balance of both elements in the body is vital for good health. Sanfutie contains a paste of herbs that are "hot" in nature, and when applied to specific acupuncture points, usually on the back and neck, they replenish the yang elements.These patches have been used in TCM since earliest recorded times, according to Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), more than 2,000 years ago, the time-tested textbook for TCM practitioners. Sanfu patch treatment became extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and has enjoyed a revival in recent years as more patients turn to TCM treatment.Eating dumplings during ToufuWhen the…

Basic Introduction to Cele Red Dates"Cele," in the Uighur language, means red dates, and Cele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. Using the common local drying method, 2.5 kg of fresh dates can be dried into 1 kg of dried dates. Apart from being dried and eaten fresh, they can also be processed into a series of food products such as beverages, date paste, date tea, roasted dates, honey dates, and canned goods, as well as medicinal health products, all of which have unique characteristics and high nutritional value with health benefits. Nutritional ValueCele Red Dates contain a large amount of Vitamin C and Vitamin B, as well as essential trace elements and various amino acids, including six kinds of amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize. The average sugar content of their fruit is 37%, reaching up to 42% at its highest, with a high content of dry matter. Product CharacteristicsThe dried dates are plump without shriveling, with a bright color, sweet and refreshing taste, and a unique flavor. Historical and Folk CustomsCele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. However, due to historical reasons, the county's red date…

The spring pancake, also known as the lotus leaf pancake or simply the thin pancake, is a very thin baked flour pancake that is a traditional delicacy of the Han nationality in China. The ingredients are simple, and the method of making spring pancakes is very convenient. They have a soft and chewy texture, and the way to eat them can be customized according to your preference, with vegetables added as you like. They can be served as a main dish or stir-fried.Introduction to Making Spring PancakesIngredients Needed300 grams of wheat flour, 150 grams of water.Steps for Preparation1. Pour boiling water over the flour and knead into a smooth dough.2. Wrap the prepared dough in cling film and let it rest for half an hour before kneading it into a long strip and cutting it into small portions.3. Take one strip, flatten it, coat each piece with a layer of oil, stack two pieces together, and roll them out thinly and large.4. Place the prepared dough sheets in a pot and steam on high heat for 10 minutes; once cooled, they can be peeled off layer by layer.Tips1. Making spring pancakes is straightforward, but when kneading the dough, add water…

Fried pancake is a common staple food in Hebei, Beijing and surrounding areas. It's not difficult to make; simply cut the cooked pancake into thin strips or shreds, then stir-fry with other ingredients. Depending on the additional ingredients used, it can be made as a vegetarian or meat version, both of which are very popular.Complete Recipe: Vegetarian Fried PancakeIngredients Needed1 baked pancake, 150 grams of chicken feather vegetables (a type of green vegetable), 1 sausage, 2 peppers, 2 cloves of garlic, appropriate amounts of oil, salt, soy sauce, and MSG.Steps1. Cut the prepared baked pancake into strips, slice the sausage into strips, and wash and prepare the chicken feather vegetables.2. Chop the garlic and slice the peppers.3. Heat oil in a pan, when it reaches about 50% heat, add the garlic and peppers and stir-fry until fragrant.4. Add the chicken feather vegetables and stir-fry until they are about 70% cooked, then add the pancake strips and sausage, stirring quickly.5. Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and an appropriate amount of salt, stir-fry, and finally add the MSG and stir evenly before serving.Tips1. In this fried pancake recipe, all three ingredients cook easily, so stir-fry quickly to prevent the pancake from…

Basic Introduction to Baiya Qilan TeaBaiya Qilan Tea is a rare new variety of oolong tea successfully cultivated from local tea plant varieties by agricultural technicians from the Pinghe County Agricultural Bureau and Pengxi Village, Qiling Township, Fujian Province. It is a shrub type with medium-sized leaves. The new shoots are notably covered with white down, and the tree has a moderate growth habit with a semi-spreading canopy and relatively dense branching at a lower position. Winter buds sprout in late March, and the tea can be harvested from late April to early May. In Pinghe, there are about four rounds of shoots per year, with an effective growing period of 215-230 days. It has strong bud-forming ability and good tenderness retention. The processing of Baiya Qilan Tea is meticulous and sophisticated. Nutritional ValueThe newly cultivated Baiya Qilan Tea was approved as a provincial-level superior tea variety in 1996. The processing of Baiya Qilan Tea is highly meticulous, resulting in high-quality tea. The evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture's Tea Quality Inspection Center in the spring of 1996 concluded: "The tea has a firm and uniform appearance, dark green and lustrous; the liquor is orange-yellow, with a fresh and…

The key to making char siu pork ribs lies in the initial marination. The quality of the char siu sauce directly determines whether you can make delicious char siu pork ribs later on. However, for a home-style version, the requirements aren't that high. Generally, the char siu sauce available in supermarkets is quite good. Of course, enthusiasts can also make their own char siu sauce.How to Make Char Siu Pork RibsEveryone says char siu pork ribs are delicious. A couple of days ago, I couldn't resist the call of my foodie instincts and made some. Well, now I'm really hungry.Ingredients Preparation300 grams of pork ribs, an appropriate amount of char siu sauce, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, half a bowl of water, 300 grams of Chinese greens, 1 small teaspoon of salt.Method and Steps1. Rinse the pork ribs clean, drain the water, then add the char siu sauce and mix evenly.2. Place them in a storage box, cover it, and refrigerate for more than three hours.3. Heat up the oil in a wok, add the marinated pork ribs and sauce, pour in the water, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer over low heat for 15…

Basic Introduction to Shucheng ChestnutsShucheng County is known as the land of chestnuts, with a history of chestnut cultivation spanning 2,000 to 3,000 years. The "Dahongpao" chestnuts produced in Shucheng are large and rich in high nutritional value. Nutritional ValueChestnuts are rich in vitamins B1 and B2, with vitamin B2 content at least four times that of rice. Each 100 grams also contains 24 milligrams of vitamin C, which is unmatched by grains. It may come as a surprise that fresh chestnuts contain more vitamin C than tomatoes, which are renowned for their vitamin C content, and over ten times more than apples! Chestnuts are also rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese. Although they do not reach the levels found in hazelnuts or melons, they still have much higher concentrations than common fruits like apples and pears, especially in potassium, where they surpass even the so-called potassium-rich apples by four times. History and FolkloreA Chinese folk saying goes: "Rambutan in July, hawthorn in August, and chestnuts laughing in September." Chestnuts, also known as Castanea, are often referred to as the "King of Fruits," and along with peaches, apricots, plums, and jujubes, are called the "Five…

Parents and other caregivers can guide children to develop lifestyle habits that will support their good health for years to come. We know that as a parent or caregiver you may not have all the answers. Like many Americans, you may even struggle to develop and stick with healthy habits of your own. One way to win this double struggle is to practice healthy lifestyle habits—together!Consuming healthful foods and beverages, doing regular physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and other factors may help children togrowlearnbuild strong bones and musclesmaintain a healthy weightreduce future chances of developing diabetes and heart diseasefeel good about themselvesAs a parent or caregiver, you play a big part in shaping children's eating and drinking habits. When you make it a habit to consume foods and beverages that are low in added sugars, saturated fat, and salt and are high in fiber, the children you care for may learn to like these foods as well. If a child you are caring for does not like a new food right away, don't be upset. Children often need to see a new food many times before they will try it.Be a role model. As a parent or caregiver, you also have an effect on children's physical activity. You…

Fried noodles are a very common noodle dish in the north. Whether it's something people stir-fry at home for regular consumption or at outdoor snack stalls, you can find traces of fried noodles everywhere. To make delicious, chewy and refreshing fried noodles, one has to learn some cooking techniques. Many people struggle with making chewy noodles that don't stick to the pan, but there are solutions to these problems!How to Make Home-Style Pork Shred Fried NoodlesIngredients300 grams of noodles, 100 grams of lean pork and winter bamboo shoots each, vegetable oil, refined salt, white pepper powder, cooking wine, soy sauce, starch, sesame oil, broth, Chinese rape, and dried mushrooms as needed.Cooking Method1. Wash the pork and cut into shreds, then mix with cooking wine, soy sauce, refined salt, white pepper powder and marinate; wash the winter bamboo shoots and dried mushrooms and cut them into shreds; wash the Chinese rape and cut into sections.2. Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and cook until done. Remove and rinse under cold water to drain. Fry in hot oil and set aside on a plate.3. In a wok, heat oil over high heat, add the pork…

The T-bone steak is located in the upper waist of the cow and is a large steak composed of loin, spine, and tenderloin. Although it may be listed as 450 grams or 500 grams on the menu, there's no need to be intimidated by this in the recipe for making T-bone steak, because once the bone is removed, its weight is similar to an ordinary portion of other steaks.How to Make T-Bone SteakIngredients Needed400 grams T-bone steak, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, black pepper sauce, salt, butter, olive oil.Steps for Preparation1. Divide the T-bone steak into two pieces and naturally thaw them.2. Cut the potatoes into thick chunks, halve the tomatoes, and tear the broccoli into small florets.3. In a pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, then add 1 tablespoon of salt. Place the vegetables in the pot to blanch until cooked.4. Heat a frying pan and add olive oil. Place the steak in the pan and fry for 2 minutes. Once one side is cooked, flip it over and continue frying until it feels firmer when pressed with chopsticks.5. Arrange the fried steak and blanched vegetables on a plate.6. Melt the butter in a pan over low heat.…

The dry pot is a cooking method that, compared to hot pots and soup pots, has less broth, is stir-fried, and has a strong flavor. It originated in the Sichuan-Chongqing region and is one of the classics of Sichuan cuisine. Among them, famous dishes like dry pot duck feet and dry pot rabbit are highly ordered in many dry pot restaurants. However, today we will introduce another type of dry pot dish: how to make dry pot shrimp.How to Make Spicy Dry Pot ShrimpIngredients PreparationShrimp, potatoes, 1 large scallion, 1 green pepper, spicy sauce, dried chili peppers, ginger and garlic, and an appropriate amount of Sichuan peppercorns.Steps1. Chop the scallions and celery into segments, cut the dried chili peppers into pieces, and mince the ginger and garlic.2. Remove the intestinal vein from the shrimp, wash them, and marinate them with salt, soy sauce, and cooking wine for a while.3. Fry the cooked potatoes in oil until they resemble French fries.4. Fry the shrimp in oil and then remove them.5. Stir-fry all the vegetables except the potatoes in a pan and then remove them.6. Heat up more oil in a pan, turn to low heat, add three tablespoons of chili sauce…

When it comes to eating, I can definitely be considered a foodie. I'm particularly fond of Baqi lamb soup and have always been thinking about finding the time to have it again. However, after learning how to make Baqi lamb soup, I started making it myself to satisfy my craving for it. Characteristics of Baqi Lamb Soup Baqi lamb soup has a history of over 300 years, making it a time-honored dish. It is made from healthy mountain goats using special techniques, combined with a variety of Chinese herbs and a secret family recipe. The soup goes through ten steps of meticulous preparation to ensure that it is neither fishy nor greasy but rather deliciously flavorful. Moreover, it is known for its health benefits, such as nourishing yin and kidneys and supporting the stomach and spleen, making it a famous specialty snack. How to Make Baqi Lamb Soup Ingredients: Lamb meat, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, ginger, scallions, Sichuan pepper, fennel seeds. Steps: 1. Clean the lamb meat and cut it into small pieces. Wash the scallions and cut them into sections; wash the ginger and cut it into chunks. 2. Place the lamb in a pot and blanch it briefly,…

Basic Introduction to Lupanshui Buckwheat TeaLupanshui Buckwheat Tea is a specialty product of Lupanshui City, Guizhou Province. It is made by selecting high-quality buckwheat grown in the high-altitude regions of Lupanshui and refining it through continuous improvement of traditional processing techniques, resulting in a healthful beverage for infusion. The processing technology and method of consumption share similarities with tea production but differ from traditional green tea, black tea, flower tea, dark tea, white tea, etc. Strictly speaking, it is a type of roasted grain tea with a yellow to deep brown color, a strong wheat aroma mixed with a hint of roasting, and the infused buckwheat grains can be chewed and eaten.Buckwheat is one of the few crops that can be used both medicinally and as food. According to "Compendium of Materia Medica," buckwheat tastes bitter, has a neutral and slightly cold nature, strengthens the stomach and intestines, benefits energy and strength, revitalizes the spirit, improves vision, refines impurities in the five organs; in "Thousand Gold Prescriptions," "Dictionary of Chinese Medicine," and related literature, there are records stating that it can calm the mind, invigorate blood and qi, relieve gas and widen the bowels, clear heat and swellings, eliminate stagnation,…