18 October, 2021
Estimated Reading Time : 1 minute, 9 seconds
Guilinggao is an original recipe from southern China that means turtle essence gelatin. Its ancient preparation was made from the shell of the striped turtle, which was ground and cooked, then mixed with sarsaparilla and dandelion. They also added a variety of flowers and thickened it with a little rice and corn flour, resulting in a gelatinous black-colored product.
In Chinese culture, Guilinggao is considered not only a dessert but also has been used for medicinal purposes, as it is believed to have anti-aging properties for the skin. It could also be used as a laxative and even to reduce fever. Nowadays, it is used to improve circulation, increase muscle mass, reduce acne, and restore kidney function.
Legend has it that Emperor Tongzhiel was suffering from smallpox and found the cure for his ailment after consuming Guilinggao. Empress Cixi did not share the emperor’s belief and attributed his improvement to worshipping an idol. She insisted so much that she convinced Emperor Tongzhiel to stop consuming Guilinggao, and within a few days, his condition worsened, and he passed away.
Another story recounts that during the rebellion in Wuzhou, the soldiers from the north led by General Zhu Liang contracted malaria due to the hot and humid climate. Upon realizing the soldiers were sick, he sought out a regional specialty, which to his surprise was turtle soup. Miraculously, the soldiers recovered after a few days of consuming it.
It is said that thanks to the recovery seen in the soldiers, local residents began exploring new ways to prepare Guilinggao and harness the benefits of turtle shells. Currently, because the striped turtle is endangered, Guilinggao is no longer made with its shell to prevent extinction. Instead, a formula that mimics the shell is used.
