Popular autumn food in Suzhou, including hairy crabs, Chinese chestnuts, water chestnuts, pomegranate, persimmon, gorgon fruit, and meat-stuffed mooncakes. [Photo/WeChat account: isuzhou365]
Various seasonal foods have emerged in Suzhou since the start of October. Find out what are some of the autumn delicacies you should not miss in the city.
Hairy Crabs
Female crabs taste the best in the eighth and ninth lunar month every year, while males are best consumed after the tenth month. Hairy crabs grown in Yangcheng Lake are the most famous in China as they are reputed to be the tastiest.
Chinese Chestnuts
Chinese chestnuts grown in the Dongshan and Xishan areas by the Taihu Lake usually ripen in September. Roasting the nuts in sand with brown sugar or cooking them with chicken and pork are two classic ways of eating Chinese chestnuts.
Osmanthus Food
The city flower of Suzhou, the osmanthus usually blooms in October. In addition to its sweet fragrance, osmanthus flowers are edible as well. Osmanthus syrup, which is made from osmanthus flowers and white sugar, is used in many local snacks, such as osmanthus cakes and lotus roots stuffed with glutinous rice.
Cangshu Mutton
Among the mutton restaurants that can be seen everywhere in the city, Cangshu Mutton is definitely the best-known one. Every mutton dish here is cooked to order.
