Imagine biting into a slice of history—literally. Jinhua ham, a salty-savory treasure from Zhejiang Province, has been winning taste bud battles since the Tang Dynasty (that’s over 1,200 years ago for the history buffs ). This ain’t your average deli meat—it’s a dry-cured masterpiece that puts the ‘wow’ in umami.
Here’s the recipe for greatness: Pig thighs get a 35-day salt spa treatment, followed by a sunbathing session until they’re transformed into glossy, ruby-red slabs. The result? A flavor so intense, it could make ramen broth blush. Top-tier hams can fetch up to $80 apiece, aging like a fine wine (or a TikTok star’s career).
Fun fact: Jinhua ham was basically the OG food influencer—it inspired Italy’s prosciutto and Spain’s jamón! Today, chefs worldwide are slicing it into haute cuisine dishes, while foodies are drooling over its #BigFlavorEnergy. Talk about a glow-up!
From ancient royal banquets to modern fusion tacos, this Chinese culinary icon proves some traditions only get better with time.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com