How to soak peach gum? What types of peach gum are there?

There are many types of peach gum on the market, but due to too many concepts, the boundaries between the types are blurred, and it is difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish the quality of various types of peach gum. In fact, according to the formation and production environment of peach gum, it can basically be divided into the following three types: What are the specific types? Let's see how the following content introduces it in detail!

Contents of this article

1. How to soak peach gum

2. What types of peach gum are there?

3. Which origin of peach gum is the best?

How to soak peach gum

1. An adult can eat 3 to 5 peach gums a day, so we only soak 3 to 5 peach gums each time, don't soak too much. Put 3 to 5 peach gums in a clean container and add about 30 times of cold water, because the swelling rate of high-quality peach gum is about 10 times, and less water cannot be fully soaked.

2. Since peach gum is picked from peach trees, it is inevitable that it has some impurities such as tree debris, but these impurities are not sticky and are easy to wash off. After soaking in cold water for 1 to 2 hours, the impurities on the peach gum will begin to fall off naturally. At this time, we can take out the peach gum and change it to clean water to continue soaking.

3. After repeatedly changing to clean water several times, the impurities on the peach gum are basically removed. When the peach gum is soaked to the point where it feels like it has no hard core, we can end the soaking process. At this time, the peach gum will swell greatly. If there are still impurities, they can be seen very clearly. Just pick them out with tweezers or scissors.

At this point, the peach gum has been soaked and cleaned, and you can safely use it to cook various delicacies.

What types of peach gum are there?

In fact, according to the formation and production environment of peach gum, it can basically be divided into the following three types:

(1) Wild peach gum

As the name implies, wild peach gum is natural peach gum picked from peach trees that grow naturally in the wild. Peach gum is naturally secreted from the cracks in the peach tree trunks and condensed on the trunks when exposed to the sun. The older the peach tree, the more cracks it has and the more resin secretion it has. The solid objects formed by these resins are of different shapes and sizes, and they can generally be pulled into threads when picked. Since wild peach trees are relatively rare, wild peach gum is more precious. And since its growth environment is not managed by humans, it avoids the influence of chemical pesticides, so the wild peach gum it produces is naturally greener and healthier. Since it is naturally formed, natural wild peach gum is generally mixed with wood or bark, which can fall off naturally after soaking.

(2) Self-cultivated peach gum

Self-cultivated peach gum is actually similar to wild peach gum. Both are native edible gums, and there is not much difference in color. The main difference between the two is whether the peach tree where the peach gum grows is a wild peach tree. Self-cultivated peach gum is generally picked from artificially planted peach trees in orchards. Since the main purpose of planting peach trees in orchards is still peach fruits, self-cultivated peach gum cannot avoid traces of artificial management. Self-cultivated peach gum is generally picked from June to October. Cut the bark directly with a knife, and collect and dry it after the resin overflows. Although self-cultivated peach gum has been artificially cultivated, it is not specially treated after picking. It is still natural peach gum with a high gelatin purity. Its quality is also superior among peach gum types and has high nutritional value.

(3) Processed peach gum

Unlike the first two natural peach gums, refined peach gum is not edible peach gum. It is made by adding hydrogen peroxide, calcium oxide, etc. to the softened peach gum in batches after picking the peach gum through precision equipment and instruments, and then vacuum compressing it. Since the refined peach gum is refined on the basis of natural peach gum for the purity of peach gum, the processed peach gum basically does not contain impurities, and the appearance is yellow and transparent. The shape and size of the particles are also relatively uniform, and they will appear in small particles after soaking. Generally, refined peach gum belongs to industrial peach gum, which is used for industrial production, so it is not recommended for consumption.

Where is the best origin of peach gum?

Peach trees are widely distributed in China. In terms of the origin of peach gum, generally, areas with large areas of peach trees are producing high-quality peach gum. However, there are also subtle differences in the peach gum produced in different regions. The following is a detailed introduction:

(1) Yunnan and Guizhou

The most famous peach gum producing area is the Yunnan-Guizhou region. The peach trees growing in the mountains of the Yunnan and Guizhou plateaus have a more pristine and pollution-free growing environment, so the peach gum produced is more precious. Farmers here start to harvest peach gum in June every year after the peach blossoms wither, and then expose and prune the harvested peach gum to obtain high-quality peach gum. Since the peach trees grow in an unpolluted plateau mountain environment, the peach gum produced is more nutritious. After steaming, the gum is thick and contains a large amount of valuable plant collagen and amino acids, which can beautify the skin and nourish the body.

(2) Suzhou and Hangzhou area

Peach gum first became popular in Suzhou and Hangzhou. The Jiangnan region has rich soil and abundant rainfall, so the peach gum grown on peach trees in this region is rich in nutritional value. The peach gum produced here is light in taste but has a fragrance when tasted carefully. People in Suzhou and Hangzhou often put peach gum in dishes, which makes the originally tasteless peach gum blend with the dishes to create a new feeling. In addition to the taste, the peach gum produced here always sounds a bit elegant, which is very suitable for female friends with a bit of petty bourgeoisie sentiment.

(3) Northern region

Peach trees growing in the north can generally grow for 20-30 years and have a longer gum flow period, generally about 35 days, while peach trees in the south mostly have a gum flow period of about 10 days. Therefore, the peach gum produced in the north is darker in color than that produced in the south. Among peach gums of the same grade, slightly older peach gum is better. Therefore, peach gum produced in the north also has unique advantages in taste and nutritional value.