Longevity comes up a lot in Asian culture. Noodles are perhaps the best known symbol of long life; you don’t have to live in China long before you learn not to cut them on your birthday for fear of shortening your time on earth. I always found the symbol of longevity intriguing, and of course, there is the God of longevity, always featured wearing long, flowing robes. Other things – deer, gourds, cranes, cicadas and bamboo to name a few – are also associated with long life in Chinese culture.
Last week, at a market, I found something I’d never seen or heard of before: longevity fruit. It’s light to hold – in fact – you’d think it were hollow. The shell cracks easily and the inside revealed small pods covered with stringy brown, root-like material. The proprietress suggested I suck on a piece of the skin and/or pod. Both offered a sweet, musky smell and taste, with just a hint of licorice flavor, which lingered long after I had left the shop.
Read about other food adventures at Wanderfood Wednesday.