Updated: 09-04-2024
Source: China Meteorological News Press
Recently, Gansu Province in western China has gained an instant fame for its ‘going-viral’ local food -- Tianshui Malatang, a hot pot that features a mixture of peppery and spicy tastes. The soul-stirring flavor comes from two raw materials -- Maiji Pepper and Gangu Chili, which are both China's geographic indication products that have developed into a local characteristic agricultural industry.
Source: CCTV News
Gangu County, which is one of the earliest counties in chilli cultivation in China, with a history of at least 400 years of pepper planting,is characterized by the local climate of four distinct seasons, with no scorchingsummer andno freezing winter. With the average annual temperature of 11.3℃, annual precipitation of 437.6 mm, 2090.8 hours of sunshine per year, Gangu is suitable for the growth of chilli which prefers a warm, moderately sunny and moist environment.
Average monthly temperature and precipitation in Tianshuifrom1981 to 2010
Source: the National Meteorological Centre
The Gangu chili industryis empowered by the local meteorologists with direct meteorological services. "We providea planting service manual for the growers to ensure the yield andquality of their chilis. At the same time, we also regularly monitor soil moisture and provide tailor-made meteorological services such as specific transplanting time." YAO Xiaoying, the chief expertfor agricultural services of Tianshui Meteorological Office, introduced.
These are Gangu chilis. Source: CCTV News
Meteorological services are recognized as a driver of the quality and production of chilis, hence ofthe local economy. "Over the past few years, with the elaborate meteorological services, especially when hail, wind and other severe weather came, we have managed to be ready for the negative impact and ensure chilis' yield and quality." HE Zhibin, general manager of Gansu Longshang Pepper Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. said, "The good quality, coupled with the going-viralTianshui Malatang,has allowedthe Company to sell outalmost 100 tons in the last 20 days, while in previous years, the annual sales volume was only 800 tons."
In addition to Gangu chili, Maiji pepper is also an important and indispensable seasoning fora spicy hot pot. Maiji refers to a zone where the climate is rather alpine and suitable for pepper growth. Thepepper produced here is large in spike and numerous in grain, thick and full in husk, brightin color,fragrant in aroma, and mellow in taste. In the cooking process of a spicy hot pot, the addition of Maiji peppercorns represents the possession ofthe whole pot with a‘soul’,leaving diners with endless aftertaste.
Moreover, ingredients such as black fungus from Qingshui, vegetables and wide potato noodles from Wushan all benefit from Tianshui's unique climate and natural conditions. These together make up theunique flavor of Tianshui "Malatang".
The enjoyment brought by Gansu to human taste budsis not limited to its "Malatang". Other snacks like"Guagua", “Jiangshuimian” and “Liangfen” (generally made of buckwheat,peas, flour and bean jelly) are all waiting for you to have a try!
Editor: JIANG Zhiqing