A Detailed Guide to Huangshi's Specialty Cuisine

Huangshi, a prominent city in Hubei Province, is renowned not only for its rich mineral resources and industrial heritage but also for its unique culinary culture that attracts countless food enthusiasts. 1. Huangshi Gang Bing (Huangshi Port Cake) - Introduction: Huangshi Gang Bing is one of Huangshi's most famous snacks and a traditional delicacy of the city. It is made with more than ten ingredients, including flour, sesame seeds, rock sugar, sesame oil, candied kumquat, and sweet osmanthus, and is meticulously crafted through multiple steps. - Characteristics: The finished Gang Bing is coated with sesame seeds on both sides, giving it a golden-yellow and milky-white appearance with slightly puffed edges. It has a rich, natural sesame aroma. A cross-section reveals three distinct layers: sesame, crust, and filling, each with vibrant colors. The cake is crumbly, sweet, refreshing, and appetizing. 2. Nuomi Ji (Sticky Rice Chicken) - Introduction: Nuomi Ji is a popular dish in Huangshi and a staple of the city's morning tea. It is a steamed delicacy made by mixing glutinous rice with various fillings such as chicken, char siu pork, salted egg yolk, and mushrooms, then wrapping it in lotus leaves and steaming until cooked. - Characteristics: Unwrapping the lotus leaf releases a fragrant aroma. The glutinous rice is smooth and delicious, infused with the savory flavor of the chicken. The subtle fragrance of the lotus leaf lingers, creating a unique and appetizing experience. 3. Taizi Doufu (Prince Tofu) - Introduction: Taizi Doufu, originating from Taizi Town in Yangxin County, is one of Huangshi's top ten snacks. Its unique production process uses high-quality local spring water, resulting in tofu that is tender yet firm. - Characteristics: Taizi Doufu is delicious whether boiled, fried, braised, or deep-fried. It also offers a soft texture when frozen and a pleasant taste when fermented. In addition to plain tofu, it comes in various flavors, including soy sauce-braised, stinky, and smoked tofu. 4. Daye Hu Mian (Daye Thick Noodle Soup) - Introduction: Daye Hu Mian is a folk snack from Daye, Huangshi. While not visually appealing, it is incredibly tasty. Its main ingredient is noodles, complemented by fried tofu, celery, pork cracklings, and cilantro. - Characteristics: Hu Mian's distinct feature lies in its short noodles, which remain intact after cooking. The noodles and the thick soup blend seamlessly, creating a unique flavor loved by locals. 5. Yinzi Ba (Rice Cake with Imprints) - Introduction: Yinzi Ba is a folk food in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces, typically made during the Lunar New Year and the Flower Festival. Huangshi's Yinzi Ba uses high-quality glutinous rice flour, daylily beans, peanuts, sesame seeds, lotus seeds, and brown sugar. - Characteristics: Yinzi Ba comes in sweet and savory varieties. Sweet fillings usually include red bean paste and sesame paste, while savory ones typically feature peanuts. The cakes are beautifully shaped, vibrant in color, and offer a soft, sweet, or savory taste. 6. Jinniu Qian Zhang Pi (Jiniu Dried Tofu Sheets) - Introduction: Jinniu Qian Zhang Pi is a traditional delicacy from Jinniu Town in Daye, Huangshi. The main ingredient is soybeans, which are first processed into tofu pudding and then pressed into thin sheets using molds. - Characteristics: These versatile tofu sheets can be shredded and added to fish soup for a delicious flavor or cut into strips and braised with red-braised pork. They can be used in various dishes. 7. Jinjiu (Vigor Wine) - Introduction: Jinjiu is a local specialty of Daye, Huangshi. It is made with high-quality baijiu (white liquor) as the base, infused with Chinese medicinal herbs such as Chinese yam, wolfberries, epimedium, astragalus, and angelica. - Characteristics: Jinjiu boasts health benefits, including anti-fatigue and immune regulation properties. It has an amber color, crystal-clear appearance, and a perfect blend of herbal and alcoholic aromas, offering a refreshing taste. Huangshi's culinary scene is diverse, with both traditional snacks and local specialties offering unique flavors. If you have the opportunity to visit Huangshi, be sure to sample these delicacies and experience the city's unique charm.