Deqing Pickled Chicken (Zhejiang Deqing Specialty)

The basic introduction of Deqing Mao marinated chicken

"Mao marinated eunuch chicken", abbreviated as "Mao marinated chicken", refers to a chicken that is slaughtered and marinated with fur. As this chicken is male and has been castrated, it has the name "eunuch chicken". Mao marinated chicken is a famous local specialty in Deqing

Processing marinated chicken with wool requires processes such as slaughter, drying, pickling, and packaging with bamboo leaves and straw, which is a traditional custom of local farmers with a history of at least 100 years. Straw marinated chicken is made by slaughtering, drying, and marinating red chicken, wrapping it with straw, and then hanging it in a cool and ventilated place to air dry. Due to its unique flavor, it has been well received by consumers. Features: This dish has absorbed the special aroma of straw, with tender inside and crispy outside, and salty inside the bones

Mao marinated chicken is also a traditional delicacy of the Deqing people. In the past, during festivals, in addition to pickled meat and preserved meat, a few Mao marinated chickens had to be hung under the eaves of Deqing windows to be considered complete. However, due to the complexity of the craftsmanship and the arduous and tedious production process, fewer and fewer families are willing to make hairy marinated chicken. Nowadays, only some farmers still retain the tradition of making salted chicken every year

Mao marinated chicken, as its name suggests, is marinated with fur. Select one year old red feathered chickens and use hot water to remove larger feathers such as the tail and wings, as well as internal organs, during slaughter. Salt can penetrate through the pores for better flavor. Keeping the remaining chicken feathers can help preserve freshness and make the meat more tender when eaten

What are the product characteristics of Deqing Mao marinated chicken

The color is light yellow, the saltiness is moderate, and the processing is simple. Although its taste is not as good as Fengji and Laoji, it is still delicious

"Mao marinated eunuch chicken" has a long history and unique production process, and is a traditional famous dish among the people. As for the theory of "eunuchs", it is said that during the Dali period, Yan Zhenqing, a great calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, served as the governor of Huzhou and often invited talented individuals and famous guests to banquets. Among them, he had a good relationship with the tea sage Lu Yu and traveled to the mountains and forests together

Sometimes the wine and vegetables carried with him cannot be fresh for a long time, so Yan Zhenqing slaughtered the fat and tender castrated chicken, removed its internal organs, marinated it with fur, wrapped it in straw, and dried it for several days. When he entered the mountain, he instructed the boy to bring it with him. When he ate it, he washed it with fur, boiled it in water, cooled it until it was cold, cut it into pieces, and had a strong aroma, fresh as before

Paired with Lu Yu's Huzhou white tea and good wine, the two of them exchanged cups and had a great temper, writing immortal masterpieces such as "Ode to the Wind in the Water Pavilion" and "Drunken Language"

Yan Zhenqing was very dissatisfied with the eunuchs and sycophants in the court, and wished he could sleep and eat them. So when Lu Yushi asked for a strange name for his food, Yan Zhenqing immediately named it "Mao Yan Eunuch Chicken"

Tasting and Eating Methods of Deqing Pickled Chicken

Pickled chicken can be boiled in soup, but it is mostly steamed and eaten. Cut the whole chicken into pieces, add ginger, sugar, and cooking wine, steam in the pot for more than ten minutes. There are no complicated steps, the simpler it is, the more delicate the taste can be tasted. The steamed marinated chicken has a bright color, tender meat, fresh taste, and rich aroma, which makes people crave and itch. Compared to the tight and dry aroma of cured chicken, the tender and juicy texture of marinated chicken is even more irresistible