Turpan Overview
If I were to choose a region that best represents Xinjiang, I would choose Turpan without hesitation. Because Xinjiang is inclusive and diverse, from Serbs to Uighurs, from Tocharians to Han people; from Shamanism to Zoroastrianism, from Buddhism to Islam; it has both the vastness and vitality of the Ili grassland and the southern Xinjiang The vastness and barrenness of the four states.
Those of us who have read "Journey to the West" since we were young will all remember that there is a "Flame Mountain", where the four seasons are extremely hot and the flames soar into the sky. In reality, there is indeed a place called Huoyan Mountain, which is located in Turpan, Xinjiang.
Although it is not as blazing as in the legend, it is still hot, and it can be called the hottest place in China. Although it is not among the "Four Stoves", it has a more severe heat than the "Four Stoves". Here the red sun is in the sky, no grass grows, and no birds are left. In summer, the highest temperature can reach 49.6°C, and the highest surface temperature even exceeds 70°C. Eggs can be cooked in the sand nest.
As a veritable "China's hot pole", the average precipitation in Turpan is only 16 mm, and it is not surprising that there is no rain all year round. It can also be called "China's dry pole".
In this issue, what we bring to you is the hot guide about "Fire Island" Turpan.
Gourmet article - "Turpan on the Grape Rack"
Grape production in Turpan is a matter of destiny, because the local temperature is high, the sunshine time is long, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and because it is a basin, the terrain determines that its groundwater resources are relatively rich, and all conditions are very suitable for the growth of grapes.
According to research, the history of grape cultivation in Turpan has a history of 2,000 years. From the state of Cheshi to the present, from Hu people, Han people to Turkic people, the history of grape planting in Turpan has never been interrupted. The grape planting technology in the Central Plains was also introduced from Turpan, and Zhang Qian, a famous general of the Han Dynasty, contributed to this.
Grapes originally originated in the Mediterranean, but the taste of Turpan has surpassed the place of origin. More than 500 varieties of grapes have been discovered, and 216 varieties appeared at the Turpan Grape Festival last year alone, including many rare varieties.
It may not be easy to identify these hundreds of grape varieties, but there are a few mainstream varieties that need to be understood.
The first place must be non-nuclear white. It is the main variety used to make raisins. It is characterized by thin skin, tender meat, and no seed, but it is a bit small in size and sometimes irregular in shape. Its sweetness is very high, and its drying rate is also very good. About 4-5 catties of grapes can produce 1 catty of raisins.
For a long time, we in the mainland could only eat raisins made of seedless white, and fresh seedless white was eaten by local talents in Xinjiang because it was extremely perishable and not resistant to collisions. tasty. Fortunately, the cold chain transportation is now very developed, so everyone can buy it in the supermarket.
The second place will probably go to Concubine Xiang. The same green raisins, there are two types that people often eat, one is short and round, and the other is long and large-grained. In fact, it is not the difference between superior and inferior products, but because they are different. Variety, long and large-grained raisins usually refer to Lvxiangfei.
Like Seedless White, Lvxiangfei is also seedless, but its granules grow up, the shape is very uniform, and its appearance is very good. Although it is not as sweet as Seedless White, it is also very good, so let it The raisins made are top grade.
Some people will say, why do the long-grained green raisins I have eaten have pits? It may come from a variety that looks very similar to Green Xiangfei: Maruzi grape.
The skin of the Mauzi grape is slightly thicker than that of Seedless White, and its sweetness is also lower. It is mainly sold as fruit.
Apart from the green grapes, Hongxiangfei is also very popular. The red long-grain raisins you see come from it. The black raisins mainly come from black rose grapes.
How did the grapes in Turpan turn into raisins?
From the freshly picked grapes to the raisins that can be seen everywhere in the Imperial Supermarket, it actually took a lot of effort.
Every time the grapes are harvested, the fruit growers will cut bunches of plump grapes and put them into boxes. Then soak them in the quick-drying agent for about half a minute, and then wash them in clean water for a while, then take them into the drying room and hang them on the drying rack. After 40-50 days of drying in the shade, it can be taken off the shelf and packaged for sale.
The use of quick-drying agents for raisins has caused heated discussions before. Many people exclaimed: It turns out that raisins also have additives, so can they still be eaten? In fact, the quick-drying agent is composed of alkali and emulsifier.
Because there will be a waxy substance on the surface of the grapes to keep the moisture inside the grapes, and this substance will make the natural drying process very long. The function of alkali is to decompose these substances, so that the grape water evaporates faster, and it is generally composed of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc. The emulsifier plays an auxiliary role, helping the alkaline water to contact the grapes more fully. The more commonly used emulsifiers include glycerin, vegetable oil, etc.
From the perspective of ingredients, the quick-drying agent is actually quite safe and has been widely used for decades, but it is not known by too many people. The function of the quick-drying agent is not only to accelerate evaporation, but also to help maintain the nutrients in the grapes. So you don't have to worry too much.
However, there are also unscrupulous merchants who use sulfur or pigments to treat raisins, so be careful when you see raisins with a particularly uniform color.
In addition, since the raisins have been exposed to wind and sun for dozens of days in the drying process, there will be a lot of wind and sand, so it is recommended that you should still wash them.
At this point, the journey of turning a sweet Turpan grape into a raisin is over.
We welcome more small partners to join us (travel experts, copywriting editors, new media operations, video production, etc.), and send your resume and work to the email: heyard@163.com (the email notes "apply" ), sincerely welcome small partners to join (accept interns).
——— / END / ————
Planning丨Fun all the way
For business cooperation and interactive questions, please leave a message directly in the background of WeChat
