Zhaoqing, located in the central and western Guangdong, has a good reputation as the old capital of Lingnan. The local steamed vegetables are the authentic specialty of Zhaoqing.
It is said that artificial steaming in Zhaoqing began in the Qin Dynasty. When Qin Shihuang was in power, the donation of labor was heavy and the peasants were miserable. At that time, farmers wrapped rice in bamboo leaves or awn leaves for the convenience of field work, and cooked it and carried it with them as dry food. This is the earliest steam. In the Han Dynasty, Zhaoqing urban and rural residents had the custom of making zongzi during the Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, which has been passed down to this day. Nowadays, Zhaoqing steamed bread has become a well-known traditional product in vernacular areas. As a necessary gift for visiting relatives and friends during the Spring Festival, Zhaoqing steamed bread symbolizes ample food and clothing and good luck in the coming year. It can be seen that, unlike zongzi, steamed dumplings are not used to commemorate Qu Yuan, but auspicious food that people want to live a rich life.
Steaming is also regarded as a tribute. According to Nan Qi Shu, there is a dish called "steaming" in the emperor's imperial diet. The emperor liked it very much: "I can't eat this, but I can break it into four pieces and have the right to eat it that night."
Wang Shizhen, a poet in the Qing Dynasty, wrote a poem praising the grand occasion of cooking and steaming on New Year's Eve in Zhaoqing's urban and rural areas: "On New Year's Eve, the smoke cages are purple, and everyone is wrapped in incense."
For more details, please click the following link:
/view/25405.html？ tp=0_0 1#2