Changde, a city located in the north of Hunan Province, thrives along the Yuan River and Li River. Its unique geographical location and abundant products have given birth to a charming food culture. Whether for local residents or tourists from afar, the food in Changde always leaves a lasting aftertaste. Here are some must – try delicacies in Changde.
Changde Rice Noodles
Changde rice noodles are the business card of Changde cuisine. Rice noodle shops can be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys of Changde. With a long history, their production process is complex and meticulous. The rice noodles are made from high – quality rice through multiple procedures such as soaking, grinding, draining, and kneading, resulting in round or flat noodles. The soup base is the soul of Changde rice noodles, mainly including beef soup, tripe soup, shredded – meat soup, sparerib clear soup, etc. The beef soup is made by simmering beef bones and beef with spices like cinnamon, Chinese prickly ash, and star anise for several hours, resulting in a delicious and fragrant soup. The tripe soup, based on the beef soup, adds the unique texture of tripe, offering a special flavor. The toppings on the rice noodles are also diverse, such as braised beef, spicy beef, stewed spareribs, and sauce – flavored shredded meat, each of which is carefully cooked. Customers can choose different soup bases and toppings according to their taste, perfectly combining them with the smooth and chewy rice noodles. Taking a bite, the smoothness of the noodles, the richness of the soup base, and the freshness of the toppings spread in the mouth, making people unable to resist. Changde rice noodles are not only an indispensable breakfast for Changde people every day but also a deep – rooted hometown flavor.
Shimen Braised Pig Intestines
Shimen Braised Pig Intestines is a special famous dish in Shimen area of Changde, renowned for its unique flavor. This dish uses fresh pig intestines, which are carefully processed to remove odors while retaining the original toughness and chewiness. When cooking, first cut the intestines into small sections and stir – fry them in a hot oil pan until the surface turns slightly golden. At this time, the fat of the intestines is forced out, filling the air with aroma. Then add seasonings such as chili peppers, Chinese prickly ash, ginger, and garlic, and stir – fry over high heat to ensure that each section of the intestine fully absorbs the flavor of the seasonings. Subsequently, add an appropriate amount of water and simmer over low heat to make the intestines more flavorful. The braised Shimen pig intestines have a bright red color, a soft and glutinous texture with chewiness, and a perfect combination of spiciness and aroma, stimulating the taste buds. Whether served with rice or as a side dish for drinking, Shimen Braised Pig Intestines are excellent, making it hard to forget after just one taste.
Jinshi Beef Rice Noodles
As an important branch of Changde rice noodles, Jinshi beef rice noodles have their own unique style. Different from other beef rice noodles, the beef toppings of Jinshi beef rice noodles are distinctive. The beef is selected from high – quality yellow beef. First, cut the beef into large pieces, marinate it with salt, Chinese prickly ash, and other seasonings, and then put it into a brine pot for marinating. When marinating, add various spices such as cinnamon, fennel, and tsaoko. The marinated beef has a ruddy color, firm texture, and a strong aroma. The rice noodles used are thin round noodles, which can better absorb the freshness of the soup base. The soup base is made mainly from beef bones and beef, simmered for a long time, resulting in a rich and delicious soup. When eating Jinshi beef rice noodles, first take a sip of the soup to feel the richness of the soup base, and then eat a mouthful of rice noodles and beef coated with the soup. The richness of the beef and the smoothness of the rice noodles complement each other, making people intoxicated. Jinshi beef rice noodles are not only popular in Changde but also have many fans in Hunan and even across the country.
Taoyuan Ground Tea
Taoyuan Ground Tea is a traditional drink in Taoyuan area of Changde, with profound cultural heritage. Its production process is rather particular. Put raw materials such as tea leaves, sesame, peanuts, and ginger into a special mortar, and repeatedly pound them into a paste with a pestle. Then add an appropriate amount of cold or boiling water and stir evenly. The taste of Taoyuan Ground Tea is diverse. You can add white sugar to make sweet ground tea or add salt to make salty ground tea according to personal preference. The sweet ground tea is sweet and delicious, with the aroma of sesame and peanuts spreading in the mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste. The salty ground tea has a unique flavor, with the freshness of tea leaves and the slight spiciness of ginger interweaving, refreshing the mind. Taoyuan Ground Tea is not only a drink but also an important way for local people to entertain guests. When guests visit, the host will warmly serve a bowl of ground tea. Everyone sits around, drinks the ground tea, and chats, full of a strong sense of humanity.
Hanshou Soft – shelled Turtle
Hanshou soft – shelled turtle is a special product of Hanshou in Changde, famous for its delicious meat and rich nutrition. Hanshou has a good environment suitable for the growth of soft – shelled turtles, resulting in high – quality turtles. There are various cooking methods for Hanshou soft – shelled turtles, commonly including steaming and braising. Steaming Hanshou soft – shelled turtle can retain its original flavor to the greatest extent. Put the processed soft – shelled turtle into a steamer and steam it with seasonings such as scallions, ginger, and cooking wine. The steamed soft – shelled turtle has tender meat and delicious soup, rich in protein and various trace elements, with high nutritional value. Braised Hanshou soft – shelled turtle is to fry the soft – shelled turtle until both sides turn golden, and then add seasonings such as soy sauce, rock sugar, and star anise for cooking until it is well – flavored. It has a bright red color and a rich taste. No matter which cooking method is used, Hanshou soft – shelled turtle attracts many diners with its unique taste and rich nutrition.
These delicacies in Changde, each carrying the history and culture of this city, are delicious treasures bestowed by the Yuanli River region. When coming to Changde, be sure to taste these special foods and personally experience the unique culinary charm of Changde.
