I came to Wuzhou once with my parents many years ago, but my childhood memories have long been blurred. I came here this time with only one purpose: to find the nostalgic taste of Lingnan.
To talk about the taste of Lingnan, I believe that the first thing that many people think of is Guangzhou, which is famous for its food. Why do we come to Wuzhou, which belongs to Guangxi? Wuzhou, an ancient capital with a history of more than 4,000 years, is located in the south of Wuling and has a typical Lingnan culture. Cantonese (commonly known as "vernacular" among the people) is widely used in the city. In addition, Wuzhou, a border city between Guangxi and Guangdong, has long been influenced by Guangfu culture and enjoys the reputation of "Greentown Water Capital" and "Centennial Commercial Port". More than 100 years ago, Wuzhou was also turned into a trading port, which cleared customs at the same time as Guangzhou, and gradually became one of the windows of the country's opening to the outside world. Cantonese businessmen were active and were even known as "Little Hong Kong" in their early years. Therefore, Wuzhou cuisine also belongs to Cantonese cuisine, and its taste is slightly sweet and sour. If the prosperity of that year can be seen from the carved pavilions in the arcade city, then the delicious food in the streets and lanes can be said to be a treasure handed down by the people, probably because of the persistence and persistence of Wuzhou people. Traditional dishes have been preserved here for a long time. After decades, it is still the original formula and the original taste.
Looking for the taste of Lingnan, starting with breakfast.
During my two days in Wuzhou, I tasted two different flavors of Wuzhou breakfast, one is small fresh soybean milk with perfect sense of ceremony, and the other is hot and smoky beef brisket powder.
Bingquan soybean milk
I remember just coming out of high-speed railway station. In the taxi, we asked the driver if there was anything delicious in Wuzhou. The driver's first reaction was, Soymilk! It can be seen that soybean milk has a supreme position in the minds of Wuzhou people. If you want to talk about soybean milk, you must count the ice spring soybean milk, especially the head office at the foot of Baiyun Mountain. Every day, countless tourists come here to drink soybean milk, which is a punch card for tourists, but for locals, ice spring soybean milk is a feeling, a memory and a miss. Eighty-three years have accompanied the growth of several generations. Whether it is in a hurry to catch up with the morning or in the afternoon, a bowl of soybean milk, a few dishes of snacks and three or five confidants belong to this city, which is the simplest and most beautiful taste.
The soybean milk here is also called drop bead soybean milk, because the soybean milk ground by hand every day is very rich. When it is introduced into the bowl, it can be seen that it forms beads, which is like the feeling of "like a pouring of large and small pearls into a plate of jade". After a sip, you feel that your lips are covered with a layer of soybean milk, and the mellow bean flavor is unforgettable. There are three flavors of soybean milk here, light soybean milk, reduced sugar soybean milk and whole sugar soybean milk. The store said that the local people in Wuzhou have a sweet taste, and suggested that I try to reduce the sugar and have a taste. I think the original taste is better.
Dim sum is also a must for ice spring soybean milk here. Fried milk, crispy taro, and egg balls, which are complex traditional snacks, have long been hard to find in Guangzhou, but they are still a must for every table here. Rice rolls, a treasure food known to regular customers, and raw meat, attracts not only rice rolls itself, but also a small dish of Chili sauce served at the same time, which is different from the spicy food in other places. The Chili sauce here is very fragrant and slightly idle, just neutralizing the sweetness of soybean milk.