Folk Customs and Famous Shops, Finest Products (Part 2)
Section 2: Famous Teas and Fruits, Abundant Fish and Rice — The Finest Hunan Tea: Anhua Dark Tea. Anhua dark tea is a traditional craft product whose production ceased in the 1950s. Mainly due to overseas market procurement, this rare treasure native to the Anhua mountains reemerged in the early 21st century and became popular in Guangdong and Southeast Asian markets, enjoying a reputation no less than today's major teas.
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Section II
Famous Tea and Famous Fruit, Rich in Fish and Rice
The finest of Hunan teas—Anhua dark tea
Anhua dark tea is a traditional craft product whose production was discontinued in the 1950s. Mainly because of procurement by overseas markets, this rare treasure originally produced in the Anhua mountainous area was able to reappear at the beginning of the 21st century and became popular in Guangdong and Southeast Asian markets. Its reputation is now no less than that of today's widely popular Pu'er, and it has been praised by authoritative Taiwanese tea books as "a classic of tea culture, the concentration of tea history, and the finest of teas." Dark tea is a post-fermented tea. Its unique processing, especially the participation of microorganisms, gives it special traditional Chinese medicinal effects. Its richness in tea polysaccharide compounds is considered by the medical community to regulate sugar metabolism in the body (prevent diabetes), lower blood lipids and blood pressure, resist blood coagulation and thrombosis, and improve body immunity. Clinical trials have proved that these special functions of dark tea are significant and irreplaceable by other teas. The main components of dark tea's soup color are theaflavins and thearubigins. Research results show that theaflavins are not only an effective free radical scavenger and antioxidant, but also have many physiological functions such as anti-cancer, anti-mutation, antibacterial and antiviral effects, improving and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and treating diabetes.
A famous Chinese fruit—Shimen mandarin orange
Shimen is like a huge orange orchard, with 440,000 mu of orange trees covering the mountains and plains, and "every village produces oranges, every household has pomelos." Li Qunyu, a proofreader at the Hongwen Institute in the Tang Dynasty and a famous poet, wrote in "Shimen Wei Mingfu Brings Dongyang Pond Stone Crucian Carp Slices" the lines "Its exquisite flavor is known as first in rank, and frost oranges further enhance the freshness of the thatch," giving Shimen mandarin oranges the lofty evaluation of "first in taste." In 2008, Shimen mandarin oranges were named "Famous Chinese Fruit" by the China Fruit Marketing Association and obtained registration as a "geographical certification trademark" from the National Trademark Office and national "green food" certification. "Xianguan" brand mandarin oranges obtained national "green food" and "pollution-free food" certification.
Hunan's first fruit named by Premier Zhou—Dongkou Xuefeng mandarin
Dongkou County is a national citrus export base county and belongs to Hunan Province's main citrus production area. It has long been known as the "home of fruit" and has a history of citrus production and cultivation of nearly a hundred years. In 1973, Dongkou mandarins were personally named "Xuefeng mandarins" by Premier Zhou Enlai. In recent years, the Dongkou County Party Committee and County Government have attached great importance to this, adopting a series of effective measures to expand and strengthen the traditional citrus industry, continuously increasing fruit farmers' income, and powerfully promoting farmers' enthusiasm for planting citrus. The county's cultivation area is 180,000 mu, with an annual output of 60,000 to 80,000 tons. Xuefeng mandarins have become a major pillar industry of the county and also a major economic source for increasing the income of the broad masses of farmers.
The tea with the highest flavonoid content in Hunan—Zhangjiajie Maoyanmei tea
Maoyanmei tea, also known as Tujia divine tea and longevity vine, has flavonoids as its main active ingredient. It also contains 17 amino acids essential to the human body, such as leucine, isoleucine, and methionine, as well as 14 trace elements such as potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium. Among them, the highest detected flavonoid content is 9.31%, the highest flavonoid content found in all plants so far, and it is called the "king of flavonoids." Maoyanmei is a purely natural health tea, and its effects are unmatched by any tea. It has been called by plant experts a major revolution in "tea." It has wide applications, no toxic side effects, and is suitable for all ages. Long-term drinking can comprehensively enhance the body's resistance, cure diseases and strengthen the body, and prolong life.
Hunan's economic tree species with the largest planting area—Changning oil tea
Oil tea is an economic tree species unique to China. Together with palm oil, olive oil, and coconut oil, it is known as one of the world's four major woody edible oil sources, and is praised as "Oriental olive oil" and "soft gold among oils." The International Food and Agriculture Organization has made it a key promoted healthy high-grade edible vegetable oil. Oil tea seeds can be pressed for oil, and the kernels contain up to 59.2% oil, making it one of China's highest oil-yielding plants. More than 90% of the world's tea oil output comes from China, and nearly 50% of China's tea oil output comes from Hunan. Hunan Province is known as the "home of oil tea." Changning in Hunan is rich in oil tea tree resources, and the city's total oil tea output ranks first among all counties (cities) in the country. It has long had the reputation of "home of oil" and "sea of oil," and was once rated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as an "oil tea demonstration base."
A world-famous product—Dongting whitebait
The vast waters of Dongting Lake abound in all kinds of precious fish, among which the jade-white whitebait is one, worthy of being called a top-grade freshwater fish. In 1918, it was listed as one of the world's famous products at the Panama International Famous Products Conference. Whitebait is not only delicate in flesh, but also rich in protein, and has the functions of soothing the middle burner and strengthening the stomach, and nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys. The "three fresh whitebait" at Yueyang banquets is delicious and widely praised. It is said that when Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty toured Jiangnan, he also tasted it.
Hunan's oldest precious fish—Dongting mandarin fish
The mandarin fish is an ancient and precious fish. Bones of the mandarin fish were found among the funerary animals in the Han tomb at Mawangdui in Changsha. This shows that more than 2,100 years ago, the mandarin fish was already held dear. According to Hunan local chronicles, the Dongting Lake area and the basins of the four rivers Xiang, Zi, Yuan, and Li have abounded in mandarin fish since ancient times, and in terms of output, Dongting Lake ranks first.
The Number One Plum of Jiangnan — Jingxian Mudong Bayberry
Jingxian Mudong bayberry is a traditional specialty of Hunan Province. The Mudong bayberry produced there is famous nationwide for its large fruit, bright color, and delicious taste, and enjoys the laudatory title of "the Number One Plum of Jiangnan." Mudong bayberry is of excellent quality, fine, soft, and mellow, sweet and sour and pleasant to the taste. It contains large amounts of vitamins and minerals and is rich in nutrients. Eaten fresh, it promotes salivation and quenches thirst, aids digestion, stops vomiting, moistens the lungs and relieves cough, and counteracts the effects of alcohol and stops diarrhea. The kernel of the pit contains up to 40% oil and is edible. Mudong bayberry sells extremely well on the market.
A Pearl in the Rice Family of Hunan — Jiangyong Fragrant Rice
Jiangyong fragrant rice is renowned throughout the world for its lingering fragrance and unique flavor, and is hailed as "a pearl in the rice family." However, Jiangyong fragrant rice is confined to just a few fields in Yuankou Township of Jiangyong County; if transplanted elsewhere, its fragrance is completely lost. Moreover, fragrant rice can only be harvested once a year, with a yield of no more than about a hundred jin per mu. Beginning in 1974, China started experimental research on fragrant rice. After repeated failures, a plant was finally found that was fragrant, early-maturing, and short-stalked. After it was brought into the greenhouse, it actually "bore offspring." Through ten years of selecting early from late and short from tall, an early-maturing variety was finally developed that is not choosy about soil, has fragrance, and is suitable for cultivation in the south — this is "Lianxiang No. 1." It was trial-planted in different fields one after another, all with success, reaching a yield of over a thousand jin per mu.
A Hunan Goose Breed Famous on the International Market — Wugang Bronze Goose
Goose raising in Wugang, Hunan, has a history of nearly a thousand years. According to historical records, as early as the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the Wugang bronze goose was listed as a tribute item. The bronze goose has delicious meat and is rich in nutrients; it is warm in nature and clears heat, and helps reduce vascular hardening and prevent the formation of fatty blood clots, making it an ideal food for middle-aged and elderly people. A local folk saying goes, "Eat bronze goose often, and you won't need medicine." The Wugang bronze goose is listed as one of China's fine goose breeds and also enjoys great fame on the international market. As early as the 1950s, bronze geese were already exported to various parts of Southeast Asia.
Hunan's "Culinary Masterpiece" — Xiangxi Pine Mushroom
In the rolling mountains of Xiangxi, pine forests rise in layered ridges, and the fragrance of pine mushrooms drifts on the air. Pine mushroom, also called pine fungus, is a mushroom that grows beneath pine trees. The orange-red ones are called red pine mushrooms, and the purple-brown ones are called black pine mushrooms; both are mountain delicacies. Cooking tofu with pine mushrooms gives an exceptionally fresh and delicious flavor; stir-frying pine mushrooms with wild chives fills the whole house with fragrance and makes one's mouth water; and the fresh, savory deliciousness of pine mushroom soup is truly a culinary masterpiece. When the people of Xiangxi receive honored guests, pine mushrooms are the first-choice dish for entertaining, prepared with great care.
A Folk Specialty Protected by National Patent — Baoqing Pig's Blood Meatballs
Baoqing pig's blood meatballs, also called blood cakes, are a traditional food of Shaoyang. They originated in the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and have been passed down through folk generations, giving them a history of several hundred years. The main ingredient of Baoqing pig's blood meatballs is tofu. First, the water in the tofu is squeezed out with gauze, then the tofu is crumbled, and fresh pork is cut into small cubes or strips. These are mixed with an appropriate amount of pig's blood, salt, chili powder, five-spice powder, and a little sesame oil, fragrant oil, monosodium glutamate, sesame seeds, and other seasonings. After being stirred evenly, the mixture is shaped into steamed-bun-sized oval meatballs, sun-dried for several days, and then hung over a firewood stove to be smoked dry. The longer the smoking time, the stronger the cured aroma. In April 2004, the innovative production and processing method for Baoqing meatballs was formally granted a patent for invention.
Hunan's Number One Famous Tea — Junshan Silver Needle
Junshan Silver Needle dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and in the Qing Dynasty it was listed as "tribute tea." Junshan Silver Needle is produced on Junshan in Dongting Lake in Yueyang, Hunan, and is a treasure among yellow teas. The tea buds look very much like silver needles. The finished buds are plump and strong, uniform in length and size, orange-yellow inside and covered with a layer of white down, earning it the title "gold inlaid with jade." In 1954 it won a gold medal at the Leipzig International Exposition. In 1957 it was rated one of "China's Ten Famous Historical and Cultural Teas." In 1972 it was designated the preferred tea for China's representatives to the United Nations in entertaining envoys from various countries, earning the reputation of "diplomatic tea." In the autumn of 2005, the Hunan Tea Society selected the "Ten Famous Teas of Hunan," and this tea firmly took first place.
The World's King of Tea — Anhua Thousand-Tael Tea
According to historical records, thousand-tael tea first appeared during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. It was first created by the "Sanhegong" tea firm established by Shanxi tea merchants at Bianjiang in Anhua, and it has a history of about 140 years. Thousand-tael tea has a unique production process. It uses authentic top-grade Anhua dark rough tea as its raw material and is made through dozens of procedures such as steaming, treading, bundling, and pressing. It is shaped like a column, and each piece weighs "one thousand taels" (about 36.25 kilograms). It is the largest single-unit tea among existing tea types and is hailed as the "King of Tea of the World," while its production technique is unique to Anhua.
One of China's Ten Famous Historical and Cultural Teas — Xinhua Meng'er Tea
Meng'er tea was rated one of "China's Ten Famous Historical and Cultural Teas" in 1957 and won a gold medal at the Panama International Exposition in 1968. It is produced in Meng'erchong, Fengjia, Xinhua, Hunan. The finished tea buds are plump and strong, uniform in length and size, golden-yellow on the inside, with the outer white down fully visible and tightly wrapped, and the tea buds look very much like silver needles. Meng'er tea has a long history and was already produced and famous in the Tang Dynasty. When Princess Wencheng married into Tibet, she selected and brought Meng'er tea with her. In the Later Liang period it was already listed as tribute tea, and this continued through subsequent dynasties. Its characteristics are: made entirely from tea buds, the tea body covered with down, and bright in color; high and refreshing aroma, orange-yellow liquor, and a sweet, mellow taste. Even after long storage, its flavor remains unchanged.
A Hunan Specialty Food — Betel Nut
More than 1,500 years ago, betel nut fruit was introduced into China from Southeast Asia for cultivation. Betel nut contains many nutrients and beneficial substances needed by the human body, such as fat, betel nut oil, alkaloids, catechin, and choline. Its seed can be used as medicine and has the effects of killing parasites, breaking up accumulations, directing qi downward, and promoting water metabolism. It is one of China's precious "Four Great Southern Medicines." Throughout the year in Hunan, whether in high-end restaurants or roadside food stalls, whether in city centers or township markets, whether at weddings and birthday celebrations or funerals and memorial services, you can catch sight of people chewing betel nut. Entering the 21st century, Hunan's betel nut industry has formed a massive industry and is growing at an average annual rate of 20%. During this period, well-known enterprises such as Pangge, Xiao Longwang, Binzhilang, Wuzizui, Youwen, Huangye, Kouweiwang, and Qimei gradually emerged, and a huge betel nut sales network took shape accordingly, selling betel nut throughout the country through shops and supermarkets in streets and alleys. Though betel nut is small, it has formed an indissoluble bond with the people of Hunan. It embodies the naturalness and authenticity of Hunan people, and it carries forward the stubborn character and free-and-easy style of the people of Huxiang — this is betel nut.