Luotian County, located in the famous southern Dabie Mountains of Hubei Province, is known for its rich rainfall and favorable climate. The region is home to over 14,900 hectares of lush natural secondary forests and shrublands, where a variety of traditional edible wild vegetables naturally grow. These plants have been part of the local diet for generations, valued not only for their unique flavors but also for their health benefits.
Among the most popular wild vegetables are:
1. **Fern (Pteridaceae)**: A perennial herb commonly known as "Ruyi food" or "ferns soup." It is typically consumed with its young, unopened leaves.
2. **Nepeta**: A member of the Nepeta genus, often eaten for its tender stems and leaves.
3. **Bitter Herbs (Patrinia)**: Known for its slightly bitter taste, it is usually eaten when the leaves are young.
4. **Water Celery (Cinnamomum)**: A perennial herb enjoyed for its young stems and leaves.
These wild vegetables thrive in remote mountainous areas, growing without exposure to pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or pollution. As a result, they are considered “green foods†— not only more nutritious and flavorful than cultivated vegetables, but also offering various medicinal benefits. For example, ferns help reduce heat and phlegm, while water celery has antipyretic, diuretic, and blood pressure-lowering properties.
The harvest season for these wild herbs runs from March to May, making them highly seasonal. However, due to limited transportation and storage capacity, only about 1% to 2% of the total yield reaches the market. Most remain unused, despite growing demand for healthy, non-polluted food both domestically and internationally.
With rising living standards and greater awareness of nutrition, there's a growing interest in preserving and commercializing these wild vegetables. By using modern processing techniques, such as freezing, canning, and drying, these "shanzhen" (wild) foods can be preserved for longer periods and transported over long distances, benefiting both local communities and consumers.
Here are three practical and cost-effective methods for processing these wild herbs:
**1. Freezing Process**
- Raw material selection and preparation: Choose fresh, young wild vegetables, clean them, and blanch in a zinc gluconate solution.
- After blanching, cool and pack the vegetables, then pre-cool and freeze at -18°C.
- A thin layer of ice is applied before final packaging and storage at below -18°C.
**2. Canning Process**
- Sort and prepare raw materials, then pre-cook in a zinc chloride solution to preserve color and texture.
- Fill jars with the prepared vegetables and add a seasoned broth.
- Seal, sterilize, and cool the cans before inspection and storage.
**3. Drying Process**
- Select fresh, high-quality wild vegetables, wash, and treat with citric acid and sodium metabisulfite to protect color and prevent spoilage.
- Dry the vegetables gradually, first at lower temperatures and then at higher ones, ensuring even drying.
- Soften, grade, and compress the dried product into briquettes.
- Apply insect control measures and store in sealed, cool, and dry conditions.
These methods are simple, efficient, and suitable for small-scale production. By adopting one or all of these techniques, local communities can fully utilize the natural resources of the Dabie Mountains, promoting both economic development and sustainable use of wild plant resources.
Dehydrated Onion granules are a type of onion product made by removing water through a special process. They retain the flavor and nutrients of the onion while extending the shelf life, making it easier to use.
Dehydrated onion granules have a wide range of applications in cooking. They can be used as a seasoning to add the characteristic aroma and flavor of onions to various dishes. Being dehydrated, dehydrated onion granules are easier to store and transport, making them suitable for a variety of occasions and environments.
In addition, dehydrated onion granules have some nutritional value. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial to human health. Also, the dehydration process helps to retain the antioxidants in the onions, which have certain health benefits for the human body.
Overall, dehydrated onion granules are a convenient, useful and nutritious condiment that is an essential part of cooking.
Dehydrated onion granules have a wide range of applications in cooking. They can be used as a seasoning to add the characteristic aroma and flavor of onions to various dishes. Being dehydrated, dehydrated onion granules are easier to store and transport, making them suitable for a variety of occasions and environments.
In addition, dehydrated onion granules have some nutritional value. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial to human health. Also, the dehydration process helps to retain the antioxidants in the onions, which have certain health benefits for the human body.
Overall, dehydrated onion granules are a convenient, useful and nutritious condiment that is an essential part of cooking.
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