The young stem of Yuanjiang reed, also known as asparagus, is rich in nutrition and delicious, and has the reputation of "Dongting Cordyceps". Yuanjiang, located in the hinterland of Dongting, has 450,000 mu of unique asparagus resources. When it first grows, it is very thin and looks like bamboo shoots, so it is also called asparagus reed tip.
Reed buds are usually seen in spring, and the time is relatively short, only about 10 days. And it's hard to choose, so the prices on the market are relatively high. When eating, you eat the tender stems inside, which tastes good and has high nutritional value.
Asparagus, as a bud of reed, is widely distributed in the Liaohe Delta, Songnen Plain and Sanjiang Plain in Northeast China, Hulunbeier and Xilingol Grassland in Inner Mongolia, Bosten Lake, Yili River Valley and Emin River Valley in Tacheng, Xinjiang, Baiyangdian Lake in North China Plain and other reed areas. Today, the main breeding bases are Shuyang, Anhui and other places in Zhejiang.
According to historical records, asparagus consumption in Yuanjiang began in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Since the Song Dynasty, many scholars have left beautiful words about delicious asparagus.
Su Dongpo observed the newly unearthed asparagus, which was described in "Night Scene of the Spring River in Hui Chong": "Peach blossoms are three or two outside the bamboo, and the duck prophet warms the spring river. Artemisia sphaerocephala has short reed buds all over the ground, which is the time for puffer fish to go up. "
Wang Anshi learned the nutritional value of asparagus from eating it, and a poem said, "When shad leave the net to build an island, the fat of bamboo shoots is better than milk." Ouyang Xiu, a great writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote: "Bamboo shoots and shad are delicious, and I hate the lack of cups and plates." I think stewed shad with asparagus is an authentic food.
Although various cuisines in modern China compete with each other, Yuanjiang asparagus is still an irreplaceable delicacy in Dongting. Dongting people mix asparagus cold, stir-fry, stew, hot pot and cook it, or mix it with fish, meat, chicken and eggs to make dishes. Asparagus is crisp, smooth and delicious. Just take a bite and you will appreciate the unique flavor of Dongting Wetland. "Yuanjiang asparagus is naturally wild and does not need artificial cultivation. Not only has a unique flavor, but more importantly, it is green and healthy and has high nutritional value. "