Eating duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival is a long-standing traditional custom, and it has an interesting story!
Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a poisonous dragon in the south that caused trouble and harmed the people. One year during the Dragon Boat Festival, a loyal minister named Qu Yuan threw himself into the river and died for his country. In order to commemorate his feat, people rowed dragon boats and made rice dumplings to honor him.
Coincidentally, on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people also discovered that there were many duck eggs on the beach by the river. People picked up these duck eggs and found that they were all salty. So they cooked and eaten these salted duck eggs, not only to commemorate Qu Yuan, but also to ward off evil spirits and avoid harm.
Since then, eating duck eggs has become a custom during the Dragon Boat Festival. People believed that duck eggs had the power to ward off evil spirits and protect themselves from poisonous dragons. This custom has been passed down to this day and has become an integral part of the Dragon Boat Festival.
In addition to warding off evil spirits, there are other explanations for eating duck eggs. Some people say that the round shape of duck eggs symbolizes reunion and happiness; some people say that the heat and detoxification of duck eggs can help people resist the summer heat. In any case, eating duck eggs has become a tradition during the Dragon Boat Festival, embodying people's yearning for a better life.
Eating duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival is not only to commemorate Qu Yuan and pray for peace, but also to enjoy delicious food. Salted duck eggs have been marinated for a long time. The butter is moist and fragrant, and the egg whites are salty and delicious. They are an indispensable delicacy on the Dragon Boat Festival table.
How to choose a good salted duck egg? Choose duck eggs that are uniform in size and without cracks. You can gently shake the duck eggs with your hands. If you feel a shaking sensation inside, it means that the duck eggs have been marinated. You can also smell the duck eggs with your nose. If you smell a light salty aroma, it means the duck eggs are marinated just right.
When eating duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival, you might as well enjoy them with some other delicacies. For example, it can be paired with rice dumplings, pastries, fruits, etc., with both salty and sweet flavors to meet the needs of different taste buds. You can also chop duck eggs into small pieces and add them to salads and sandwiches, which are both nutritious and delicious.
Eating duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival is not only a traditional custom, but also a delicious food. It embodies people's yearning for a better life and adds a unique flavor to the Dragon Boat Festival.