🍽️ Duck Neck

Spicy and aromatic, a Wuhan snack classic.

Wuhan duck neck is a signature braised snack of Wuhan, Hubei province. Whole duck necks are slow-simmered in a master stock loaded with chili, Sichuan peppercorn, star anise and cassia bark until glossy deep red. The meat stays firm and slightly chewy, releasing first a savory-sweet note, then a building layer of numb-spicy heat that lingers as you gnaw. Local versions are often air-dried briefly after braising so the spice penetrates deep. It is eaten warm, when the aroma is fullest, and chilled, when the texture turns springy, and is a classic companion to beer at gatherings.