Oil-flavored pancakes are a traditional delicacy of the Hui people. Every year during the important festivals such as Corban, Eid al-Fitr, and Holy Eid, people will make this kind of oil-flavored pancakes. So do you know the origin of Hui oil incense and what are the characteristics of Hui oil incense? Let’s take a look below with the editor!

Youxiang is one of the traditional foods of the Hui, Dongxiang, Sala, Baoan and other ethnic groups located in the northwest. It is called "Xiangxiang pot" in some places. The name "oil cake" is taboo in the Hui language, especially during religious festivals and religious activities. The language motivation of "Youxiang" to "Youcake" is not the difference in meaning, but the choice of language method for emotional communication within the nation, out of the different national psychology. At the same time, since religion and ethnic food are often inextricably linked, the custom of oil-flavored oil is the role and manifestation of religion in the formation of ethnic food customs.

National culture

Classification and production of oil incense

The raw materials for making oil incense are divided into three types: ordinary oil incense, sugar oil incense and meat oil incense. . In terms of taste, "the northwest Hui people have the aroma of salty oil, light oil, sweet oil, hot oil, fermented flour, etc.; the southern Hui people in Quanzhou, Yangzhou and other places have the aroma of glutinous rice oil and sweet potato oil." Most of them. The oil incense in areas where the Hui people gather is round, but some areas are different. For example, the oil incense of the Hui people in Langzhong, Sichuan is not round cake-shaped, but cylindrical, much like a cup cake.

Characteristics of the oil-flavor custom

(1) Do not move the oil pan without inviting the imam. In some areas, there is a saying among the Hui people that "the frying pan cannot be used without inviting the imam". This is because in Hui customs such as naming, circumcision, marriage, funerals, and festivals, imams often participate in various rituals as presiding officers. Therefore, if any family is going to make oil incense, they must first invite the imam home to chant sutras, and then use the oil pan.

(2) It must be halal and clean when making. The Hui people are very particular about making oil incense. The person in charge of the pot "must do a cleanse and ablution before frying to maintain purity; generally he is older. Some people are in charge of the pot. They light incense next to the pot and say 'Tai Simi'." Put it in the pot. When frying, it is taboo for people who have not done ghusl to approach the pot head. To prevent people who have not done ghusl from breaking into the house, put a bowl of water next to the pot for the purpose of cleansing. After the oil is fragrant and fried, You have to put your face on it.”

(3) Break it into pieces when eating. The fried oil is fragrant, and when you hold it in your hand, "you should also face it upward, break it along the edge of the knife, and avoid eating it bite by bite." In some places, you can tear it in half with your hands and bite it, but it is taboo to eat it directly with the complete oil aroma. Bite and eat, which is also the unique characteristic of Hui people from all over the world. In addition, the Hui people in the mountainous areas of southern Ningxia are taboo about eating fried food at the same time. They have to wait until the fried food is finished before eating.

(4) Food preparation when eating. According to the content quoted above, it can be seen in many places that Hui people distribute or give oil incense to relatives, friends, and neighbors, which is a relatively obvious phenomenon of eating food. This is especially typical in festival customs. The Hui people in Longhui County, Hunan Province "make incense oil and send it to the mosque for worshipers to eat" during Eid al-Fitr. During the Holy Festival, the Hui people in Sanya, Hainan, "prepare rice, flour, peanut oil, etc. to make incense. At the same time, they slaughter livestock and entertain people who come to the mosque to hold commemorative activities." When the Hui people in the northwest celebrate the Fatumai Festival, everyone "collects money and food, cooks and eats together, invites people to eat, gives them to others, and eats to their heart's content until their bellies are swollen."

We know that in the process of cultural dissemination and adaptation, the cultural components of a certain nation may proceed simultaneously. The custom of oil incense was passed down from person to person because of the Islam that the Hui people believed in. It was because Islam was accepted by Chinese culture and integrated into the system of Chinese food culture. This also shows that as long as these external factors are not counter-functional or ecologically damaging in the end If you have the key, you may be accepted.

Summary: Every household of the Hui people has fried cakes, which they and their families usually eat. If something special happens, for example, some people and families will choose to give fried oil incense as a gift.