Liuyang Vegetarian Dishes

　　For Liuyang locals, all vegetables and fruits can be made into vegetarian dishes. The most traditional name for the vegetarian dishes is "salt dry tea". In the past, most of the excess fruits and vegetables were made into snacks through processes such as salt and sugar pickling. People served these snacks when entertaining guests at home. 

　　Liuyang boasts a wide range of vegetarian dishes, with products made of sour jujube being the most abundant. Sour jujube can be processed into nearly 20 kinds of products.  Sour jujube is locally called the Five Blessings Fruit as there are five holes on the jujube pit, symbolizing five blessings: longevity, prosperity, health and inner peace, virtue, and a peaceful end of life. Therefore, every family will buy sour jujube ahead of Spring Festival and other festivals.  

　　The process for making dried sour jujube fruit is as follows:

　　1. Pick fresh wild sour jujube fruit;

　　2. Select the fruit;

　　3. Wash the fruit;

　　4. Steam the fruit;

　　5. Remove the peel and pit from the fruit;

　　6. Pulp the fruit into a puree;

　　7. Shape the fruit; and,

　　8. Dry the fruit.

　　Chinese and photo source: Changsha Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall