Guang Shui Hulu Tang

Original Guest: Everything Comes - 2019-04-20

Passing by a breakfast stall, I couldn't put down a bowl of Guang Shui Hulu Tang, the fragrance of chili pepper in that one mouthful made me have endless aftertaste.

I think a good bowl of Guang Shui Hulu Tang should at least include the following eight ingredients: black pepper powder, chili powder, ginger minced, scallion, egg flower, shredded white cabbage or Napa cabbage, sliced dried bean strips, a little vermicelli noodles.

black pepper powder

Hulu Tang is most a 'hu' (pepper) word, this spice that has been passed down from the Tang Dynasty to the Central Plains region, can dispel the cold, aid digestion, and nourish the stomach. In Qing Dynasty Zhang Bingcheng's 'Ben Cao Bian Du' recorded: Pepper, can disperse, invigorate, open the chest cold phlegm and cold air, although it is hot and dry, it is also very good at lowering the qi, so eating it immediately feels chest and abdomen refreshing. In order to achieve this refreshing effect, black pepper powder needs to be more in Hulu Tang, and the bottom of the bowl should still be black (with a lot of black pepper powder left).

chili powder

Since it's Hulu Tang, there needs to be a 'la' (spicy) word, so you need to put in some chili powder to season. Chili was introduced to China from America in the late Ming Dynasty, it became popular in the late Ming Dynasty, and began to be popular in the early Qing Dynasty. 'La' comes after 'hu', 'hu' is the main spicy flavor, 'la' must be in a moderate amount, as long as it has a spicy flavor, it is enough.

ginger minced

Ginger is also an essential seasoning in Hulu Tang, ginger contains gingerene and other terpene essential oils in the ginger family, which has the effect of invigorating the stomach. But some people don't like to eat ginger, I suggest replacing ginger minced with ginger shreds, so that people who don't like ginger can pick them out.

scallion

Scallion doesn't need to be said, the most common seasoning. Sliced scallions dipped in sauce, the more you eat, the stronger you become.

egg flower

Due to the increasing cost, nowadays some places' Hulu Tang has no more egg flower, it comes from the thought that egg flower as a flavoring is already superfluous. Remembering when I was a child, egg flower was still a rare thing, using chopsticks to pick up egg flower to the mouth to taste carefully is also a fun, now egg flower is no longer expensive, the children don't think this is fun anymore.

shredded cabbage

Shredded cabbage is generally made of shredded white cabbage or Napa cabbage, it's not suitable for using shredded green vegetables because white cabbage or Napa cabbage has enough moisture, is crisp, and has a slight sweetness.

dried bean strips

Dried bean strips, also known as tofu strips, cut into shreds or, has a bean flavor.

vermicelli noodles

Vermicelli noodles are usually made of sweet potato noodles, but you must not put too many, otherwise it will turn into a noodle soup. Many Hulu Tang in Henan and Shaanxi use noodles, but Guang Shui is a traditional rice-growing area, with rice as the main staple food, so they use sweet potato noodles instead of noodles.

How much does a bowl of Hulu Tang cost? Actually, its selling price is only one yuan.

Combining the fragrant spicy flavor of four spices – scallion, ginger, and chili – plus the crisp sweetness of shredded cabbage, the fresh tenderness of egg flower, the fragrant aroma of beans, and the starchy flavor of sweet potato noodles, it perfectly releases the flavors on the tongue.

After finishing a bowl, shout loudly: 'Boss, another bowl of Hulu Tang!'

My Hulu Tang and Braised Noodles

Promise me, you must try the taste of Guang Shui Hulu Tang!