Suzhou people are particularly fond of seasonal food, and with the arrival of summer, various delicacies have hit the market. Here’s a list of local must-try foods to help you beat the summer heat.
Zaowei
Zaowei (marinated food) goes well with wine, thus making it very popular among the locals in the summertime. The secret of zaowei lies in the brine made with grains and special sauce.
Recommended shops: Dusanzhen (杜三珍), Lugaojian (陆稿荐)
Mung Bean Soup
Add mung beans, glutinous rice, red and green shredded orange peel, white gourd sugar and candied jujube into cold boiled water or peppermint water, and you will get a bottle of traditional Suzhou mung bean soup.
Recommended shops: Xuji Mung Bean Soup Shop (许记绿豆汤), Lvdou Apo Mung Bean Soup Shop (绿豆阿婆绿豆汤), Dongwu Sujinji Mung Bean Soup Shop (东吴苏锦记绿豆汤)
Peppermint Cake
This soft and glutinous cake has a faint smell of peppermint and will surely refresh you on a hot summer day.
Recommended shops: Huangtianyuan (黄天源), Wanfuxing (万福兴), Jinshuilou (近水楼)
Sour Plum Drink
Sour plum stock is usually sold in bottles, with which you can make your own sour plum drink easily.
Recommended shop: Caizhizhai (采芝斋)
Three-shrimp Noodles
The famous shrimp noodles contain three main parts: shrimp meat, roe and brain (the “three shrimp”). The base materials are fresh shrimps from the Taihu Lake
Recommended shops: Yuxingji (裕兴记), Suyuzhai (苏虞斋)
Electric-fan Cold Noodles
Electric-fan Cold Noodles are boiled noodles cooled down by electric fans with special sauce and toppings added. A bowl of Electric-fan Cold Noodles in the morning will whet your appetite immediately.
Recommended shops: Huizhen Mama Suzhou-style Snacks (惠珍妈妈苏式小吃), Tangxiangyuan Noddle Shop (汤香源面馆)
Liuyuehuang
Liuyuehuang, which literally translates as June yellow, is the hairy crab that finishes its third molting in the sixth month of the lunar calendar. Male crabs are preferred since they have thin shells, tender meat and rich roe.
Recommended shops: Yangyang Chinese Restaurant (洋洋中餐馆), Lingling Restaurant (玲玲酒家)
Watermelon Chicken
Watermelon Chicken, a famous traditional seasonal dish, is made with chicken, watermelon and other ingredients including pigeon eggs, shredded ham and lotus seeds. It is better to drink the soup first and then eat the chicken.
Recommended shops: Deyuelou (得月楼), Songhelou (松鹤楼)
Stir-fried Shredded Eel
As the saying goes: Ricefield eels around Minor Heat are more nutritious than ginseng. Ricefield eels are especially delicious and high in nutritive value in summer.
Recommended shops: Wusa Restaurant (五卅酒家), Xiehe Restaurant (协和菜馆)