Four foods eaten by southerners at the beginning of autumn:
1. Watermelon. On the day of Beginning of Autumn, a big tradition in the south is to eat watermelon, which is called "gnawing autumn". In some places, it is also called "biting autumn". People believe that eating watermelon on this day can not only relieve heat and prevent diseases, but also means bidding farewell to the hot summer and welcoming the golden autumn. Common “autumn-biting” fruits are watermelons, peaches, melons, etc., and even extend to different crops such as potatoes and corn, which is actually the joy of a good harvest.
2. Pumpkin. Pumpkin is a seasonal food in autumn, and pumpkin is warm in nature. After autumn, the weather is prone to dryness, skin moisture evaporates faster, and people are prone to dryness and heat. Pumpkin has the function of moisturizing dryness and has sufficient moisture, which can improve people's discomfort caused by dryness in autumn.
3. Longan. The Beginning of Autumn is also the peak season for longan production in Taiwan. People believe that after eating longan meat, their descendants will become high officials. It is sweet and delicious, and is very popular among people.
4. Eggplant. Eggplant is rich in vitamins and trace elements. There is a saying that "eggplant is planted at the beginning of summer and eggplant is eaten at the beginning of autumn." This is the allusion of eating eggplant at the beginning of autumn. At this time, the candel has a delicate taste and a unique fragrance. It tastes great whether fried or steamed.