Fresh winter bamboo shoots in Yixing. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

With the arrival of winter, foodies in Yixing, a county-level city in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, are looking forward to winter bamboo shoots.

Stewed bamboo shoots with salted meat. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

Yixing is renowned for its bamboo forests. Covering an area of 666.67 hectares, the Yixing Bamboo Forest scenic area is home to over 140 species of 162,000 bamboo trees.

To taste the fresh winter bamboo shoots, mountain dwellers dig them early in the morning. High-quality bamboo shoots feature pointed heads, short bodies, a clear texture, and light white bottoms.

Winter bamboo shoots are good for removing the greasy taste after a feast of fish and meat.

Stir-fried bamboo shoots with black cabbage. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

They can be stewed with salted meat, and a bowl of chewy salted meat and crispy bamboo shoot slices will definitely warm up the body.

Winter bamboo shoots can also be stir-fried with pickled cabbage, black cabbage, garlic, and eggs.

A pot of yan du xian. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

The quintessential Yixing way to enjoy the dish would be to cook it with salted ham and bean curd knots to create yan du xian soup. The bamboo shoots provide a tantalizing contrast to the soft texture of the ham and beancurd. It is an essential dish for Yixing natives during cold weather.