Even if it is an ‘intangible cultural heritage’, not everyone is brave enough to try this strange boiled egg with urine.
Due to being popular since ancient times in many real historical records, the dish “boiled eggs with urine” has been officially recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of Indochina – a town. Jinhua city-level colony, Zhejiang province, China, in 2008.
Urine boiled egg dish in China. (Illustration) Similar to boiled eggs with tea, but with a special ingredient that is soaked, boiled and stewed in the boy’s urine. This dish is considered an ethereal pleasure of the Chinese, so boiled egg with urine is also known with a rather “beautiful” name, which is boiled egg with pupil urine, or boiled egg with male urine. Close-up of an egg boiled with pupil urine. (Illustration) The dish “boiled eggs with urine” has a fairly simple recipe, including only eggs, time and pupil urine. Every day, urine from boys under the age of 10 is collected from local primary schools. Eggs are first soaked in urine, then boiled. Once the eggs have been hunted, the shells are broken to allow urine to penetrate into the eggs, and then continue to be flushed with urine at room temperature to prevent the eggs from being overcooked. Woman pouring urine on top of eggs. (Illustration) Since ancient times, Eastern medicine has given “the juice of the small copper” as a medicine, which can cure many different diseases. Therefore, it is said that boiled eggs with urine also have the effect of enhancing blood circulation, increasing vitality, and even preventing stroke. Because of those “fanciful” uses, boiled eggs with pupil urine cost four times more than the price of ordinary boiled eggs. Urine boiled eggs cost more than regular boiled eggs. (Illustration) However, whether it is an intangible cultural heritage or an oriental medicine with many healing and health-enhancing effects, not everyone is brave enough to try this strange and delicious dish. This looks unhygienic. Even today, Chinese medical experts and international public opinion are still skeptical, arguing quite fiercely about the use as well as the food hygiene problem of the pupil’s urine boiled egg. Although it is an intangible cultural heritage, not everyone dares to try this dish. (Illustration) But the two words “elite” in the culinary industry and the time factor are inherently inseparable. Whatever you say, boiled eggs with urine have existed for a century and have become an indisputable cultural feature in the cuisine of Indochina in particular, and of China in general.
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