| Virgin boy egg | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 童子蛋 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | boy egg | ||||||
| |||||||
| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 童子尿煮雞蛋 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 童子尿煮鸡蛋 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | boy urine-cooked chicken egg | ||||||
| |||||||
Virgin boy eggs are a traditional dish of Dongyang,Zhejiang,China in which eggs are boiled in the urine of young boys,preferably under the age of ten.
The dish is a longstanding tradition in Dongyang,China,dating back centuries.[ citation needed ] In general,China has had a long history of food preservation methods. Tea eggs were originally developed to preserve the food for long periods of time. While the boy eggs may not have necessarily had the same origin,their development comes from a similar cultural background. [1] There is no explanation for why boys' urine is used specifically;it has simply been so for centuries. [2] It has historically been believed in the Zhejiang region that urine has various health benefits,and it was commonly ingested in ancient times. [3] [4] [2] The dish's traditional nature stems from the tendency in Chinese cuisine to emphasize the detailed history of specific foods.
The dish is prepared by first soaking the eggs in the urine of young boys,then the mixture is heated over a stove. After boiling,the entire surface of the egg shells are cracked,and they are placed back into the urine. The used urine is then replaced with fresh urine and the process is repeated. The soaking process cures the eggs in the urine,and the entire process generally takes a full day. [3] [4] According to some recipes,different herbs may also be added. When finished,the eggs' whites have a pale golden hue and the yolks turn green. [5] Virgin boy eggs are similar to century eggs in their curing process and historical roots,although century eggs have become much more popular and do not use urine. [1]
Virgin boy eggs are widely accepted as a tradition in the city. [3] Boy egg vendors go to elementary schools in the city where they collect urine from young boys,preferably under the age of ten. Children who have been raised in the city are used to the practice,and relieve themselves in basins that the vendors place in the hallways. The teachers often remind the boys not to urinate in the basins if any of them have a fever or feel ill. [3] [5] Some vendors wait with containers in parks or public restrooms for a parent who is willing to let their child offer urine. [3] [5] Dongyang residents are also known to prepare the dish at home,using urine from household boys. [4] Although modern medical research shows no evidence of health benefits from ingesting urine,the eggs continue to be consumed. As of 2012 [update] ,the eggs are sold for about 1.50 yuan (approximately $0.24) each,roughly twice the price of normal eggs. [4] Not all of the city's residents enjoy the dish. One local man was quoted stating,"The smell kills me. I feel like throwing up at the thought of it. It stinks." [3] In general,the eggs remain highly acclaimed by the people of Dongyang for both their taste and even their "fragrant" smell. [4]
Urine therapy has been a significant part of traditional Chinese medicine for much of its history. In ancient times,urine was used as a means of enhancing the effects of medicine,although today,the practice is widely viewed as unsanitary. It is also claimed that the ingestion of the eggs can treat yin deficiency,decrease internal body heat,and promote blood circulation. [3] Locals assert that the eggs also prevent heat stroke. [4] Modern medical practitioners remain dubious of any health benefits of urine therapy in general.
Lutefisk is dried whitefish, usually cod, but sometimes ling or burbot, cured in lye. It is made from aged stockfish, or dried and salted cod. The fish takes a gelatinous texture after being rehydrated for days prior to eating.
French toast is a dish of sliced bread soaked in beaten eggs and often milk or cream, then pan-fried. Alternative names and variants include eggy bread, Bombay toast, gypsy toast, and poor knights (of Windsor).
Fried rice is a dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or a frying pan and is usually mixed with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood, or meat. It is often eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to another dish. Fried rice is a popular component of East Asian, Southeast Asian and certain South Asian cuisines, as well as a staple national dish of Indonesia. As a homemade dish, fried rice is typically made with ingredients left over from other dishes, leading to countless variations. Fried rice first developed during the Sui dynasty in China.
Urine therapy or urotherapy, in alternative medicine is the application of human urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking of one's own urine and massaging one's skin, or gums, with one's own urine. No scientific evidence exists to support any beneficial health claims of urine therapy.
Balut is a fertilized developing egg embryo that is boiled or steamed and eaten from the shell. It is commonly sold as street food most notably in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Deviled eggs, also known as stuffed eggs, curried eggs or dressed eggs, are hard-boiled eggs that have been peeled, cut in half, with the yolk scooped out and then refilled having been mixed with other ingredients such as mayonnaise, mustard and sprinkled with paprika, cinnamon or curry powder. They are generally served cold as a side dish, appetizer or a main course during gatherings or parties. The dish is popular in Europe, North America and Australia.
Dongyang is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jinhua in Central Zhejiang Province, China. It covers an area of 1,744.05 km2 (673.38 sq mi) and administers eleven towns, one township, and six subdistricts. It is part of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Region.
Salmorejo, sometimes known as ardoria or ardorío, is a traditional creamy soup originating from Andalusia, southern Spain, made of pear tomato, bread, extra virgin olive oil and garlic. The salmorejo is served cold and may be garnished with diced Spanish ibérico ham and diced hard-boiled eggs.
Queen of Puddings is a traditional British dessert, consisting of a baked, breadcrumb-thickened egg mixture, spread with jam and topped with meringue. Similar recipes are called Monmouth Pudding and Manchester Pudding.
Tea egg is a Chinese savory food commonly sold as a snack, in which a boiled egg is cracked slightly and then boiled again in tea, and sauce or spices. It is also known as marble egg because cracks in the egg shell create darkened lines with marble-like patterns. Commonly sold by street vendors or in night markets in most Chinese communities throughout the world, it is also served in Asian restaurants. Although it originated from China and is traditionally associated with Chinese cuisine, other similar recipes and variations have been developed throughout Asia. Tea eggs originated in Zhejiang province as a way to preserve food for a long time but are now found in all provinces.
Matzah brei, sometimes spelled matzah brie, matzoh brei, or matzo brei, is a dish of Ashkenazi Jewish origin made from matzah fried with eggs. It is commonly eaten as a breakfast food during the Jewish holiday of Passover. It can be prepared either sweet or savory.
Soups in East Asian culture are eaten as one of the many main dishes in a meal or in some cases served straight with little adornment, particular attention is paid to the soups' stocks. In the case of some soups, the stock ingredients become part of the soup. They are usually based solely on broths and lacking in dairy products such as milk or cream. If thickened, the thickening usually consists of refined starches from corn or sweet potatoes.
Mie goreng, also known as bakmi goreng, is an Indonesian stir-fried noodle dish. It is made with thin yellow noodles stir-fried in cooking oil with garlic, onion or shallots, fried prawn, chicken, beef, or sliced bakso (meatballs), chili, Chinese cabbage, cabbages, tomatoes, egg, and other vegetables. Ubiquitous in Indonesia, it is sold by food vendors from street hawkers (warungs) to high-end restaurants.
A great variety of cassava-based dishes are consumed in the regions where cassava is cultivated. Manihot esculenta is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes.
Century eggs, also known as alkalized or preserved egg, are a Chinese egg-based culinary dish made by preserving duck, chicken, or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months, depending on the processing method.
Nasi kerabu is a Malaysian rice dish, a type of nasi ulam, in which blue-colored rice is eaten with dried fish or fried chicken, crackers, pickles and other salads. The blue color of the rice comes from the petals of Clitoria ternatea (butterfly-pea) flowers (bunga telang), which are used as a natural food coloring in cooking it. The rice can also be plain white rice or rice cooked using turmeric. It is often eaten with solok lada and is also eaten with fried keropok.
Telur pindang or pindang eggs are hard-boiled eggs cooked in the pindang process, originating from Javanese cuisine, Indonesia, and popular in Malay as well as Palembang cuisine. The eggs are boiled slowly in water mixed with salt, soy sauce, shallot skins, teak leaf, and other spices. Due to its origins, it bears striking similarities with Chinese tea eggs. However, instead of black tea, this version uses leftover shallot skins, teak leaves or guava leaves as dark brownish coloring agents.
Mie jawa, also called as mi jawa or bakmi jawa in Indonesia, or mee Jawa in Malaysia is a traditional Javanese style noodle, commonly found in Indonesia and Malaysia. The dish is made of yellow noodle, chicken, vegetables, egg and spices. The recipe however, is slightly different between mie jawa in Indonesia and mee Jawa in Malaysia.
Binatog, also known as bualaw or kinulti, is a Filipino boiled corn dessert topped with freshly grated coconut, butter, and salt or sugar. It is commonly sold as street food in the northern Philippines by vendors known as magbibinatog carrying characteristic large tin cans, similar to taho vendors.
