Tianshui Local Cuisine

The Tianshui Guagua

Tianshui Guagua is a traditional snack with a unique flavor that originated in Tianshui, Gansu province. It has a cultural history of over 2000 years, dating back to the Western Han Dynasty. The snack is made of local buckwheat starch and has a fragrant, spicy, spongy, and soft texture that is famous in the region. It is a favorite among locals and is often referred to as "the first food in Qinzhou".

During the late Western Han Dynasty, a Guagua was the royal food in the royal palace.  Xiao Xiao's mother was particularly fond of this snack and would consume it every three days. Later, when Xiao was defeated, the chef fled to Tianshui and opened a shop to sell this type of duck. Over time, the dish became known as Tianshui Duck and has been passed down through generations. The name “Gua” also has its origins in this story. It refers to the meaning of “Gua” in Tianshui dialect. Because the buckwheat flour is so sticky that it becomes semi-solidified, it will form a thick pot, so the name “quack” has also been handed down. In 2017, the Tianshui Guagua production technique was included in the “fourth batch of Gansu Province Intangible Cultural Heritage” list.

Reference Price: 0.6$ / bowl

Tianshui Jiangshuin Noodles

The Jiangshui Noodle

Tianshui Jiangshuin noodles a traditional dish from the Tianshui region. It is noodles with Jiangshui as soup. Jiangshui is not only a delicious staple food but also has the effect of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, treating diseases, especially in summer, it can be used as a refreshing drink. The primary ingredients for preparing Jiangshui consist of endive, alfalfa, mustard, and various wild vegetables such as celery, lotus, and cabbage leaves. These ingredients are boiled and combined with a fermentation starter, then left to ferment in a porcelain pot for three days. When enjoying Jiangshui, it is often served with cold dishes or pickled vegetables like carrot shreds, and cucumber shreds, along with spices like oil and spicy seeds to enhance its flavor. Jiangshui is not only tasty but also rich in beneficial enzymes, helping to relieve summer heat, boost appetite, and provide certain benefits for hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and urinary system problems. Overall, Jiangshui is a traditional dish with a rich history, distinctive taste, and health benefits that are cherished by the community.

Reference Price: 1.7$ - 2.1 $ / bowl

Tianshui Chowder

The Tianshui Chowder

The preparation process of this dish involves mixing egg whites and egg yolks thoroughly and frying them into pancakes as a main ingredient. The pancakes are firm and smooth. Additionally, we need to prepare chives, shrimp, meatballs, and other ingredients, which are blanched in hot water to remove grease and impurities. To make Tianshui Chowder, cut the fried egg pancakes into strips and cook them in chicken broth together with the sliced meat and meatballs. Then add the blanched blanco, boil again, and remove from the pan. This dish is a combination of meat and vegetables, and the taste is rich, not only the toughness and smoothness of egg pancakes, but also the tenderness of sandwich meat, the refreshing of ring leather, and the delicious of meatballs, then with rich chicken soup and seasoning, let people have an endless aftertaste.

Reference Price: 5.3$ / bowl

Tianshui Liangfen

The Tianshui Liangfen

Tianshui Liangfen is a traditional snack in Tianshui. It has a variety of varieties, including buckwheat cold noodles, pea cold noodles, and iced bean cold noodles. Among them, buckwheat cold noodle is widely loved for its smooth taste and delicate texture. The process of making Liangfen typically involves processing raw materials (such as buckwheat) into starch and then boiling them with water to create a gel-like substance. Tianshui Liangfen is a distinctive dish, typically consisting of long strips of cold powder or vermicelli grown using special tools. These are placed in a bowl and mixed with oil, spicy seeds, sesame paste, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, garlic paste, salt, Sichuan pepper, and other seasonings to achieve a flavorful combination of salty, sour, fragrant, spicy, and umami tastes. It has a long history. Legend has it that it was the imperial dish in the imperial palace during the Western Han Dynasty and was handed down by the imperial chef. Furthermore, Lotus Town is renowned for its cold noodles, crafted from locally sourced buckwheat, boasting a pure flavor and smooth consistency.

Reference Price：0.7$ / bowl

Tianshui Lard Box

The Tianshui Lard Box

Because it is made in something like a box, it is called a lard box. Tianshui lard box is renowned for its crispy, tender, and fragrant qualities, beautiful color, and non-greasy oil. The main ingredients include refined flour, pork lard, fresh green onion, sesame oil, and refined salt. The production process is intricate and meticulous, involving noodle mixing, noodle resting, pastry making, pastry rolling, and other steps. In modern times, in addition to traditional lard boxes, there are new lard boxes with innovative tastes and shapes, as well as innovations in packaging and sales, attracting more young consumers and foreign tourists. In addition, the lard box in Tianshui is not only a delicious cuisine, but also often enjoyed with green tea, becoming a unique food culture. As time goes by, the lard box-making technique has been included in the intangible cultural heritage protection list of the Tianshui City project, reflecting the local people's attention to the traditional craft and inheritance.

Reference Price: 0.3$ / one