Translucent gray vermicelli made from sweet potato starch — chewy, slippery, slightly elastic.
Where it comes from
Northern Chinese tradition; major production in Sichuan, Henan, Hunan. Distinct from glass noodles (mung bean) by texture.
In the kitchen
Found in hu la tang, sha zhu cai, ant-climbing-tree (mayi shang shu); soaks up surrounding flavors strongly.
Across cuisines
Sweet potato vermicelli is made from sweet potato starch, resulting in translucent gray noodles that are chewy, slippery, and slightly elastic. They are a staple in northern Chinese cuisine, used in hot pots, stir-fries, and soups. This type of noodle is distinct from glass noodles, which are made from mung bean starch.
