thousand-year egg
Preserved duck egg
A thousand-year egg is a Chinese preserved egg, typically duck, cured in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, and lime for weeks or months—not actually a thousand years.
The process transforms the egg: the white becomes dark and gelatinous, the yolk turns greenish-gray and creamy.
The flavor is pungent and strongly sulfurous.
Also called century egg or preserved egg.
Inherited cultural legacy
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- ChineseOf that Asian nation
- customHabitual group practice
celebration · ancestral · regional · artisanal · Cantonese · banquet · festival · family recipe
Waterfowl's shelled embryo
- quail eggSmall bird's offspring vessel
- chicken eggPoultry reproductive cell
- yolkEgg's nutrient core
- albumenClear protein in eggs
shell · preserved egg · tea egg · salted egg
Watery rice porridge
- dim sumChinese small-plate tradition
- tofuCoagulated soy milk block
- century eggAsh-cured preserved egg
- Chinese cuisineFood traditions from Asia's largest nation
appetizer · cold dish · garnish · soy sauce · pickled ginger · sesame oil · scallion · porridge
Having high pH
- quicklimeCalcium oxide powder
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
- saltSodium chloride compound
- potashAlkaline fertilizer compound
curing · fermentation · preservation · pickling · congealed · gelatinous · maturation · aging
Viscous and semisolid
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- dark greenDeep leafy shade
- sulfurYellow combustible element
ammonia · pungent · umami · savory · alkaline · marbled · brownish · jelly-like
Liking developed over time
- polarizingCausing sharp division
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- unusualNot often encountered
- complexHaving many interconnected parts
distinctive · umami · challenging · intriguing · sophisticated · appreciation · rich · earthy
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- ChineseOf that Asian nation
custom · celebration · ancestral · regional · artisanal · Cantonese · banquet · festival · family recipe · generational
duck egg
Waterfowl's shelled embryo
- quail eggSmall bird's offspring vessel
- chicken eggPoultry reproductive cell
- yolkEgg's nutrient core
albumen · shell · preserved egg · tea egg · salted egg
congee
Watery rice porridge
- dim sumChinese small-plate tradition
- tofuCoagulated soy milk block
- century eggAsh-cured preserved egg
Chinese cuisine · appetizer · cold dish · garnish · soy sauce · pickled ginger · sesame oil · scallion · porridge · silken tofu
alkaline
Having high pH
potash · curing · fermentation · preservation · pickling · congealed · gelatinous · maturation · aging · shelf life
gelatinous
Viscous and semisolid
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- dark greenDeep leafy shade
sulfur · ammonia · pungent · umami · savory · alkaline · marbled · brownish · jelly-like · strong odor
acquired taste
Liking developed over time
- polarizingCausing sharp division
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- unusualNot often encountered
complex · distinctive · umami · challenging · intriguing · sophisticated · appreciation · rich · earthy · creamy
thousand-year eggfried egg
Cooked in oil
hard-boiled egg · scrambled egg · poached egg · soft-boiled egg · boiled egg
thousand, year, thousands, thousandth, years, yearly, yearling