Gelao people like to eat and drink camellia oleifera, which is the traditional diet custom of Gelao people and an integral part of Gelao people's "three dishes table" diet culture. "Yaotai" is a regional dialect in Zheng 'an, Daozhen and Wuchuan, which means "end". The first tea seat in Sanyaotai is mainly camellia oleifera, mainly drinking tea, with fruits and cakes. After the tea table, transfer to the second seat. The wine is national wine or home-brewed corn wine. After the banquet, it was moved to the third table. The most representative dish on the dining table is the shuttle meat of the nation, so the three dining tables are called "three dishes table", which is a kind of food culture passed down by the nation for thousands of years.
This traditional diet custom not only has unique national characteristics, but also retains its original culture, which is unique among many ethnic groups in China. The custom of drinking Camellia oleifera has been inherited from generation to generation in Zheng 'an County, mainly spreading in Xinzhou Town, Yangxing Township and Bifeng Township. It has a long history, and its production skills are mastered by every household in every village in China.
In Pinggelao Autonomous County, the tea-picking songs and dances "tea-picking songs" and "tea-picking lanterns" of this ethnic group are still completely passed down. The Silver Needle Museum in this county has a collection of primitive tea-making tools, namely the wooden tea rolling machine, which is also widely used among the people today. The spread area of the custom of making and drinking camellia oleifera is not only widely spread among people in Zheng 'an County, but also in some areas under the jurisdiction of neighboring Daozhen County and Wuchuan County.
There is a story about the origin of Camellia oleifera. It is said that thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Gelao people cultivated land for survival and often went hungry. When they are hungry, they take off the tea tips and chew them in their mouths. This is not only non-toxic, but also tastes bitter first, then sweet, and then fragrant, which can temporarily satisfy their hunger. With the passage of time, the Gelao people gradually turned this wild tea into hometown tea, raw tea into cooked tea, and tea into camellia oleifera, and called it "Gelao Camellia oleifera". Since family members like to drink Camellia oleifera, they should make Camellia oleifera well.
Camellia oleifera not only tastes delicious, but also has unique flavor, which has the effects of refreshing and fitness. Because its green tea can be fully decomposed or combined with the components of green tea and oil after being fried, kneaded and boiled at high temperature, healthy vitamins can be fully digested and utilized. People who drink camellia oleifera often feel refreshed and refreshed after drinking it, so it is also called "vitality soup" or "refreshing soup"
Camellia oleifera not only has the functions of refreshing the brain and strengthening the body, but also has the functions of preventing constipation and indigestion. It has both practical value of quenching thirst and satisfying hunger, and social value of entertaining relatives and friends and welcoming guests on holidays.