🍽️ Xinhui Dried Tangerine Peel

Aged citrus peel, used in dishes and tea, aromatic and sweet.

Xinhui dried tangerine peel is a geographic-indication specialty of Xinhui in Jiangmen, made from the peel of local red mandarins sun-dried and aged for years. Xinhui sits at the Xijiang River estuary, and its saline, moist soil produces citrus peels with full oil glands and a bright aroma. Fresh peel must be aged at least three years before it qualifies as aged; the longer it is kept, the more valuable it becomes, as the color deepens from red to brown and the sweet-mellow medicinal aroma grows. It is enormously versatile: braised with pork ribs, steamed on fish or cooked into congee to lift aroma and cut fishiness; brewed alone or with pu-erh tea; and used in traditional medicine for digestion. Xinhui families treat aged peel as an heirloom, with decades-old pieces prized over gold. It is both the soul seasoning of Jiangmen cuisine and a must-buy souvenir, embodying the Lingnan idea of food and medicine sharing the same source.