A leathery dark lichen that grows in flat rosettes on bare cliff faces, gathered by hand and dried to brittle black-brown discs. Soaked and cleaned of grit, it turns soft and slightly crunchy with a clean, earthy taste and is prized as a delicacy far rarer than wood ear. It is simmered in soups and stewed with chicken.
Where it comes from
Hand-harvested from the sheer rock faces of the Huangshan range and other steep mountains of southern Anhui, where it has long been a treasured local mountain product.
In the kitchen
Soaked, scrubbed and simmered with free-range chicken or in clear soups, lending a delicate texture and a faint mineral, earthy depth.
Nutrition (per 100g)
~28kcalCal
~3.2gProtein
~0.4gFat
~5.0gCarbs
~3.5gFiber
AI-estimated; model and run unavailable.
