During the severe summer heat in the north, eat autumn fat, drink lotus seed soup, and eat summer sheep.

1. The popularity of "sticking fat"

Before and after the onset of the Great Heat is the hottest period of the year, the fastest growth of crops, and the most critical period. Since it is a hot season, people pay great attention to their diet during the dog days, which is called "sticking fat" in the north. At this time, the custom of northerners is to eat noodles, dumplings, eggs, etc. As the saying goes in Beijing, "the first one is the pastry and the second one is the noodles, and the third one is the pancakes and eggs." Beijingers also make iced sour plum soup and sell it along the streets.

According to historical records, the eating habit of eating noodles on Furi dates back to at least the Three Kingdoms period. Because during the dog days, people's appetite is not good. According to the traditional customs of the Chinese people, pasta is the food to appetize and satisfy the craving. In the past, people's living conditions were poor and their appetites were poor during the bitter summer. The wheat harvest happened to be just after harvesting, so eating dumplings would improve their lives.

Eating hot noodle soup on the second dog day can make people sweat and remove moisture and heat from the body. Eating pancakes and eggs on the dog days of summer allows people to take advantage of the leisure time to replenish nutrition and strengthen their bodies to welcome the autumn harvest.

2. Drink lotus seed soup

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, eating lotus seed soup has been the most popular in Furi. According to "Records of Success in the Imperial Capital": "In the hot summer of June, fresh food and drink are the most preferred. Two eaters of the lotus in the capital; the inner rivers are tender and fresh, suitable for absorbing dew and increasing longevity; the outer rivers are firm and solid, suitable for drying "Use." "Qing Bai Lei Chao" also said: "In summer in the capital... fresh lotus seeds and the like are mixed with small ice cubes" for entertaining guests.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that lotus seeds are sweet and mild in nature, and have the functions of nourishing the spleen and astringent intestines, nourishing the heart and kidneys. Drinking lotus seed soup every day in summer can strengthen the heart, strengthen the will, nourish the mind and strengthen the spleen. Middle-aged and elderly people eat it to lighten their body and replenish their qi, making them strong. There is a scientific reason to drink lotus seed soup in summer to increase longevity.

The specific method of making lotus seed soup is to remove the pistils from the lotus seeds first, and then soak them in water for an hour; during this period, tear the white fungus into pieces and wash it, and then brew it with water for a while; take a pot and add an appropriate amount of water , add white fungus and lotus seeds and simmer for two hours until the soup becomes transparent, then add appropriate rock sugar.

3. "Drinking Summer Sheep"

In southern Shandong, there is a custom of "drinking Heat Sheep" (that is, drinking mutton soup) when the Great Heat comes. In Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, many citizens want to "drink the summer sheep" on the hot day. This habit is said to be related to the local farming and climate. Zaozhuang is a famous wheat-producing area. At the time of entering the ambush, the wheat harvest is over and new noodles are on the market. It is a short agricultural slack period.

At this time, the summer harvest has just passed, and people are already tired. It is time to take a rest and enjoy it. But according to the conditions in the countryside, what is there to eat? After eating a new wheat steamed bun, I ruthlessly killed a sheep. I was not willing to eat it myself, so I had to take my married daughter back and take my nephew Gouzi back to her parents' house to eat new wheat steamed buns and drink mutton soup.

That’s it, your daughter has been brought back, and my family can’t lag behind. We have to make steamed buns with new noodles, kill a sheep, and take your daughter back to “drink the summer sheep”... As time goes by, , this habit spread from neighborhood to neighborhood, and gradually became a folk custom.

In terms of nutrition, experts have also conducted in-depth research on "drinking summer sheep" and believe that mutton is the most nutritious when eaten during the dog days. During the dog days of summer, heat accumulates in the human body. At this time, if you drink mutton soup, chili oil, vinegar, and garlic into your stomach at the same time, you will inevitably sweat profusely all over your body. When the human body perspires, it can take away the accumulated heat in the five internal organs and excrete it from the body. Toxins are beneficial to health.