Legend has it that in ancient times, the southern region was haunted by a poisonous dragon, which was harmful to the people. One year, during the Dragon Boat Festival, a loyal official named Qu Yuan threw himself into the river to die for his country. In honor of his feat, people rowed dragon boats and wrapped zongzi to pay tribute to him.
Coincidentally, on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, people also found many duck eggs on the beach by the river. People picked up these duck eggs and realized that they were all salted. So they boiled these salted duck eggs and consumed them, both in honor of Qu Yuan and to ward off evil spirits.
Since then, eating duck eggs has become a custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. People believe that duck eggs have the effect of warding off evil spirits and demons, and can 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 some other sayings about eating duck eggs. Some people say that duck eggs are round, symbolizing reunion and beauty; some say that duck eggs clear away heat and detoxify the toxins, which can help people ward off the summer heat. In any case, eating duck eggs has become a tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival, which holds people's aspirations for a better life.
Eating duck eggs at the Dragon Boat Festival is not only a way to honor Qu Yuan and pray for peace, but also a way to enjoy the food. Salted duck eggs, after a long time of curing, the yolk is oily and fragrant, and the egg white is salty and savory, making it an indispensable delicacy on the Dragon Boat Festival table.
How to choose a good salted duck egg? To pick a duck egg that is uniform in size and has no cracks. You can gently shake the duck egg with your hand, if you feel a wobbling sensation inside, it means the duck egg has been salted and flavored. You can also use your nose to smell the duck eggs, if you smell a light salty flavor, then it means that the duck eggs are pickled just right.
To eat duck eggs at the Dragon Boat Festival, you may want to enjoy them with some other delicacies. For example, it can be paired with dumplings, pastries, fruits, etc., both savory and sweet, to meet the needs of different taste buds. You can also chop up the duck eggs and add them to salads and sandwiches, which is both nutritious and delicious.
Eating duck eggs on Dragon Boat Festival is not only a traditional custom, but also a kind of gastronomic enjoyment. It holds people's desire for a better life and adds a unique flavor to the Dragon Boat Festival.