Amid the lush landscapes of Hejiaba Village in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, a culinary innovation is transforming lives. The villagers have turned their abundant lotus ponds into a “green gold mine” by crafting unique lotus leaf noodles, captivating taste buds across the country and revitalizing their rural community.
As dawn breaks over the 200-mu (approximately 13 hectares) expanse of verdant lotus ponds, locals like Wu Yanlin venture out to harvest the prized leaves. “The key lies in choosing the darker leaves,” Wu explains. “They infuse the noodles with a rich color and depth of flavor. Younger leaves just don’t have the same potency.”
The process of making the noodles is both meticulous and time-honored. After washing, the lotus leaves are juiced and mixed precisely with flour to form a dough. This dough is then rolled, flattened, cut into strips, and left to air-dry naturally. The result is noodles with a lustrous, jade-like sheen and a delicate, natural green hue.
“These noodles are a summer staple for us,” says local resident Zhao Qifeng. “They’re delightfully slippery, chewy, and carry a faint, refreshing fragrance. Starting the day with a bowl of lotus leaf noodles is pure joy.”
But the villagers’ creativity doesn’t stop at noodles. They’ve developed over a dozen lotus leaf-inspired dishes, including lotus leaf tofu pudding, crispy tofu snacks, fragrant teas, and savory scrambled eggs. These “cool and refreshing” treats are now reaching markets across the Chinese mainland, from Beijing to Shanghai and even the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, thanks to e-commerce platforms.
The burgeoning lotus leaf industry has become a significant economic driver for Hejiaba Village. It generates an annual collective dividend of 30,000 yuan (about $4,174) and provides stable employment for 14 residents. Beyond boosting incomes, this enterprise has enhanced the village’s environment and strengthened community bonds, charting a distinctive path toward rural revitalization.
“We’ve not only improved our livelihoods but also preserved our natural surroundings,” reflects Wu. “It’s rewarding to see our traditions bringing prosperity to our village.”
Hejiaba Village’s success story is a testament to the power of innovation rooted in local tradition, inspiring other rural communities to explore sustainable paths to development.
