Chinese Noodles in Shanxi Province: Traditional Noodles Making Techniques of Dragon-beard Noodles and Daoxiao Noodles

Noodles of Shanxi Province [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Traditional noodles of Shanxi Province boast a long history and a wide variety of categories, among which dragon-beard noodles and daoxiao noodles(sliced noodles) are the most representative ones. Because of their unique making process, the traditional noodles making techniques (techniques of making dragon-beard noodles and daoxiao noodles) were included in the second batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2008.

Dragon-beard noodles are a kind of traditional noodles popular in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, with unique flavor and exquisite making skills. It was originally served to the royal court, but later spread to the ordinary people. Legend has it that this kind of noodles earned its present name from the emperor because it is as thin and supple as hair and resembles dragon's beards.

Dragon's beard noodles are exquisitely made with fine ingredients, and its making method used to be regarded as the secret. When making the noodles, the flour and water are firstly mixed in the ratio of 5:3, and then put some sesame oil on the dough. After the dough on the board is kneaded or rolled into a long strip, it is stretched and rolled up with both hands of the chef. After being stretched and rolled several times, the thin thread-like dragon's beard noodles are made.

Making process of dragon-beard noodles [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Making process of dragon-beard noodles [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Daoxiao noodles, also known as "sliced noodles", are a kind of noodle made by knife cutting, which are said to have originated in the Yuan Dynasty. When making it, people knead the dough into a tube shape of about a foot long, and then stand in front of a boiling pot, holding the dough with one hand, and use a special knife to cut the noodles into the pot from top to bottom. The cut noodles are trigonous in shape, with the same width and length, resembling willow leaves. Daoxiao noodles, known for being thin and long, are sinewy, soft and smooth with good taste and easy to digest.

Making process of daoxiao noodles [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Making process of daoxiao noodles [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]