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One of the must-eat delicacies for Yangzhou locals during the Dragon Boat Festival is salted duck eggs.
Among these, the salted duck eggs from Gaoyou, a county-level city in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, are celebrated both in China and internationally for being particularly fresh, fine, tender, and rich in oil, with red yolks and a unique sandy texture.
Gaoyou duck eggs enjoy these special qualities because of the environment in which the ducks are raised. One of the three most renowned duck breeds in China, Gaoyou ducks thrive in the pristine waters of Gaoyou Lake. They are free-range, diving up to three meters to feed on the lake's abundant natural resources such as small fish, shrimp, shellfish, and various aquatic plants. This natural diet results in superior quality eggs.
Gaoyou duck eggs also boast a rich cultural history. In the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), poet Qin Shaoyou gifted Gaoyou duck eggs to his friend Su Dongpo, another literary giant of the time.
In 2016, the traditional craft of making Gaoyou salted duck eggs was recognized as part of Jiangsu provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, securing its place in the annals of culinary tradition.
Gaoyou salted duck eggs in the making. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
The yolk of Gaoyou salted duck eggs. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
