Guizhou cuisine

[citation needed] There is an ancient local saying, "Without eating a sour dish for three days, people will stagger with weak legs".

[2] In addition, the unique sourness featured in Guizhou cuisine comes from the local tradition of fermenting vegetables or grains, and not from using vinegar products.

Guizhou cuisine also features dishes specially cooked to match the flavour of locally produced liquor, such as preserved vegetables and steamed cured meat.

Spicy dipping sauce (蘸水; zhàn shuǐ) is crucial in daily dining of Guizhou people.

It is made by mixing chili pepper, garlic, ginger, green scallion, sesame oil or soy sauce, according to personal preference.

One unique ingredient used in Guizhou dipping sauce is Houttuynia (折耳根/鱼腥草; 折耳根/魚腥草; zhéěrgēn/yúxīng cǎo), which is loved by local people but not commonly accepted by other Chinese with its distinct taste.