02x07 - Hardy Banana

[bunniefuu]

Leaves with waxy surfaces.

Dewy stems.

Intricate and delicate flowers.

These local plants
have been put to good use


in the hands of the Yunnan residents,
where they reached their full potential.

Yunnan.

Its average temperature in a year
is degrees Celsius.


More than percent of its surface
is covered by mountains.


The mountains are high,
the forests, dense and the land, fertile.


A kind of plant is growing
without inhibitions.


Hardy bananas are
a close relative of bananas.

In Yunnan, aside from eating it directly,

the ways it is eaten
have been developed more extensively.


Cover it in glutinous rice and sugar.
Then, steam it.


In Mangshi, Dehong,
it is called Hardy banana
Baba.

HARDY BANANA
BABA

In Yunnan's menu,

fruits of hardy banana trees
are just basic ingredients.


The really enticing flavors are located in
the other parts of the hardy banana tree.

YUNNAN MANGSHI, MANGBANG VILLAGE
YUE BAOXIAN
After New Year's Day,

Yue Baoxian would take specialized tools

to welcome the flavor
she's been waiting for six months.


A hardy banana tree
only blooms one flower.


After a portion of the stamen
and pistil became hardy bananas,

the other portions stop growing.

At this time, when you remove the flower,

not only will it further
the hardy banana tree's growth,


it provides a new flavorful ingredient
to mankind.


In Yunnan, most of the flowers
can be added to dishes.


Slice the flower of Fortune Windmill Palm
and stir-fry it.


It's refreshing and crunchy.
There's sweetness after the bitterness.

Sautéd Shangjian flower sprouts.

It's very soft and fresh.

Blanche hardy banana flower stamen
and pistil. They're sticky and sweet.

It's amazing when dipped in sauce.

Compared to the scarcity
of hardy banana flowers,


another part in the hardy banana tree
is considered more plentiful.


It's also widely used
by the people in Yunnan.

YUNNAN MANGSHI, MANGLIANG VILLAGE
Every morning,

fishermen in the Longchuan River

would deliver fresh river delicacies
to Bao Changjiu.

Tiny river fish have firm flesh.

In order to retain its freshest flavor,
we need a special way of cooking it.

BAO CHANGJIU

The surface of hardy banana leaves
has a wax-like, non-stick quality

with a fresh fragrance.

Bao Changjiu will use it
to cook the river fish.


Fifty kilometers away
from the northwest is Deang Village

which is surrounded by mountains.
OUTSIDE DONGGUA VILLAGE

Zhao Yuyue is searching for an ingredient
for her daughter's pre-wedding reception.

She needs to be extremely careful

because the price
of getting this ingredient


is cutting down
an entire hardy banana tree.

After dissecting it layer by layer,

she ends up getting
her daughter's favorite delicacy.


Hardy banana stems serve as passageways
for nutrients to get to the tree.

They're crunchy and refreshing,

sweet with a bitter aftertaste.

Until now, every part of
the hardy banana tree is being used.


This is mankind's way
of showing respect to nature

after learning about food for a long time.

The hardy banana leaves
need to be prepared beforehand.


Grill them in the fire
to dehydrate the cells and fibers.

The hardy banana leaves become softer.

And they are ready to be used as wrappers.

Add some grounded spices,

mountain pepper, baby tomatoes
and mix them thoroughly.


It won't destroy the soft flesh
of the fish.


Instead, it would let the flavor
seep in deeply.


A total of three layers of hardy banana
leaves cover the fish tightly.

It's about to bring out the flavor in it.

Under the heat,
the juice slowly oozes out.


The closed space
formed by the hardy banana leaves


lock the fragrance
and repeatedly steam the fish.

After grilling it for minutes,

the strong and fragrant spices
are completely absorbed into the fish.


But the fragrance of the hardy banana
leaves neutralizes the flavor.

The taste is intricate and complex.
GRILLED WRAPPED RIVER FISH

The way of grilling food
wrapped in hardy banana leaves

is called
"Baoshao."

It incorporates grilling and steaming.

It guarantees the perfect shape
of the food as well as its abundant taste.


It's a traditional way of cooking
from the hunting era.


Now, it became a symbol
of Yunnan's flavor.

YUNNAN MANGSHI, MANGBANG VILLAGE

Seventy kilometers away,
in the village of Dai Tribe,


Yue Baoxian is using a more tender way
of preparing hardy banana flowers.

In the embers, the flavor is being formed.

The temperature and grilling time
are all based on experience.


After an hour, the moment has come
to verify the results.


The hardy banana flower
has completely transformed.


Crushing it
releases all the flavors inside.


Juice comes out
of the crushed hardy banana flower.

It has the right amount of stickiness.

Together with the spices,

it tastes delicate and smooth.
YUNNAN MANGSHI, OUTSIDE DONGGUA VILLAGE

Delicate is also the texture
Zhao Yuyue aims for.

ZHAO YUYUE
Boil in water for minutes.

While the high temperature
softens the hardy banana stem,


it breaks down the tannins
and weakens its bitter taste.


Next is the key step
that decides the flavor.


Following its lines,
tear the hardy banana stem into strips


in order to preserve its fibers
and make it easier to absorb the flavors.


The additional ingredients
are Zhao Yuyue's secret weapon.


The fresh and salty flavor
of fermented soybeans

reach its peak after grilling.

This is a must-have condiment
for every household in the Deang Village.

The fermented black soybeans.

The refreshingly sweet
and soft hardy banana stems

have strong and hot spices inside.

It's smooth and juicy.

The height of the flavor

reached its peak with the help
of the fermented black soybeans.

It's delicious.
The pre-wedding dinner starts on time.

Based on the Deang Village's tradition,

the couple will accept their elders'
best wishes in a traditional way.


Her mother brings out hardy banana stems
that she carefully prepared.

This is her daughter's favorite.

Even if she marries
and goes to a faraway place,


the flavor of this dish
will remind her of the flavor of home.


Next to the Deang Village, at an altitude
of , meters above sea level,


the hardy banana tree Zhao Yuyue cut down
starts growing again.


After eight months,
it will produce fruit again.

The vitality of hardy banana trees,

just like the creativity of Yunnan people
when it comes to food,

never dies.