How the 'durian of soup' became the hippest dish in China
But it's rare for an odorous dish to become a national favorite, which is exactly what's happened with luosifen, now one of the hottest food trends in China.To get more news about luo si fen, you can visit shine news official website.
Just like the notorious durian fruit, this snail-based rice noodle soup dish has created a buzz on Chinese social media thanks to its infamous smell. While some claim the scent is mildly sour, others say it should be classed as a bioweapon.
Luosifen originated in Liuzhou, a city in China's north-central Guangxi autonomous province. It features rice vermicelli soaked in a spicy broth, topped with locally grown ingredients including bamboo shoots, string beans, turnips, peanuts and tofu skin.
Despite having the word "snail" in its Chinese name, actual snails don't commonly appear in the dish, but are used to flavor the broth."It only takes three bowls to get you hooked," Ni Diaoyang, head of the Liuzhou Luosifen Association and director of the Luosifen Museum in the city, tells CNN Travel proudly.
For a Liuzhou local like Ni, beyond the initial stench, a bowl of luosifen is a delicious concoction with rich and complicated flavors -- sour, spicy, savory and succulent.
In the past, it would have been hard for non-locals to share Ni's enthusiasm for this strange regional dish -- or even to try it. But luosifen's magic has unexpectedly spilled beyond its birthplace and overtaken the entire country, thanks to a DIY ready-to-eat form.
Pre-packaged luosifen -- which many describe as the "luxury version of instant noodles" -- usually comes with eight or more ingredients in vacuum-sealed packets.
Sales soared in 2019, leading it to become one of the best-selling regional snacks on Chinese e-commerce sites like Taobao. State media reported 2.5 million luosifen packets were produced daily in June 2020.
"The pre-packaged luosifen is truly a special product," says Min Shi, product manager of Penguin Guide, a leading Chinese food review site.
"I have to say it has an impressive consistency and quality control in flavors -- even better than some local store made ones," she adds.
Global brands like KFC are also latching onto this huge food trend. This month, the fast food giant rolled out new take-away products -- including packaged luosifen -- to appeal to young eaters in China.Noodles inspired by 'industrial thinking'
While the Covid-19 pandemic almost obliterated the restaurant industry worldwide, the crisis turned out to be a blessing for luosifen makers.
Years before the pandemic began, noodle makers in Liuzhou were brewing an idea to take a different path from those exporting local specialty foods to other parts of China by opening chain restaurants or shops, such as Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles and Sha Xian Xiao Chi -- or Sha county snacks.
The ubiquity of chains offering these foods in branches all over the country is the result of deliberate efforts of local governments to turn their famous dishes into semi organized franchises.
A humble city in southwestern China, Liuzhou is a key base for the automotive industry, accounting for about 9% of the country's total auto production, according to city government data. With a population of 4 million, the city is home to more than 260 car parts manufacturers.
By 2010, luosifen had already earned a following after being featured in hit culinary documentary "A Bite of China."
Specialized luosifen chains started to pop up in Beijing and Shanghai. But despite some initial fanfare and a government push, in-store sales fell flat.