Trying snail rice noodles, a delicacy of Liuzhou

Guangxi is known for many things - its rolling hills, beautiful karst scenery and clean air. But when you think of Guangxi food, what comes to mind? Well, for me it definitely wasn’t luosifen, better known as snail rice noodles in English.

These noodles are a speciality dish in Liuzhou City. They are so famous here that they even have their own museum, where you are taken on a journey through the history and production of luosifen, and even get to give them a try.

The dish itself consists of rice noodles in a snail soup, which is tastier than it sounds. Snails are harvested from local rivers and farmlands, and boiled down with pork bones for a number of hours to make a stock. Then, it’s time to simply serve it up with some rice noodles and a variety of toppings, such as pickled green beans or bamboo shoots, peanuts, fresh green vegetables and chill oil.

The spicy style of soup might sound like the direct opposite of what you’d want to eat during the hot, humid Guangxi summer, but our guide told us that spice helps clear out the pores and keep people healthy in the summer heat.

In terms of flavour, it didn’t taste as odd as I was expecting, and was very similar to a pork or chicken broth with a hint of something else, which I suppose was snail. The chili oil complimented it well and the pickles added a little crunch to the dish. I’d definitely order luosifen again next time I’m in Guangxi!