Changzhou dried turnip
Changzhou dried turnip () is a local food of Changzhou, southern Jiangsu province, east-central China. It is believed to have an almost 1,000-year history. It is called the "spicy dried turnip" because of its mix of a sweet taste and a combination of crisp and soft textures. It is one of the famous traditional types of pickled vegetables from China. Changzhou dried turnip is grown in Xinzha, Zhonglou District, Changzhou, and is described as red, smooth, crumbly, and has a sweet flavor. This kind of turnip used to be called the small turnip. By using this kind of turnip as the raw material and following a special salted process, when one chews Changzhou dried turnip the chewing has no residue. History

For a very long time, each family living beside the canal of the Xinzha district planted the turnip and salted the turnip. After the People's Republic of China was established, the Sauce Production Company of Changzhou became the center of production. The spicy dried turnip is one of the major products of this company. The trademark is called Hongmei(). In 1978, a Cheng family living on the southern bank of the canal in Beigang, adhering to the ancestors’ business set up Changzhou Yudie specialty food product factory () to produce dried turnip as a flagship product. The ancestral secret recipe process has been passed on for five generations, and it is believed that the turnip made by this factory results from a more traditional process than its competitors. Status Quo

Every step of the production process, including the selection of the raw material, the salting, the formulation, the manufacturing, and the packing, is affected by scientific management and mechanizing processing technology. The Changzhou dried turnip has already become the specialty food of Changzhou. In 2008, the “Yudie” spicy dried turnip was listed in the Changzhou non-material cultural heritage list. References

 

Changzhou
Jiangsu cuisine
Fermented foods
Pickles