Danfeng County was called Longju Village in ancient times and was once a prosperous flood and drought wharf. People here grow a special kind of alfalfa called fragrant alfalfa. Not the kind used primarily as fodder for livestock. It is also called alfalfa, but it has no fragrance and does not have the word "fragrance" in its name. Fragrant alfalfa is mainly used as seasoning, such as pepper, cinnamon, and grass fruit; it can also be steamed, fried, and cooked with poultry, meat, fish, and vegetables. Alfalfa sprouts can also be eaten by people, but they cannot be used as seasonings. The people of Longjuzhai call ordinary alfalfa wild alfalfa, and their fragrant alfalfa is called domestic alfalfa. The two types of alfalfa are almost identical in shape, but have very different smells, textures, and uses. In many dictionaries, the word "alfalfa" cannot be found. "Cihai" has an article about "parsley", which is also called "cilantro". The fresh leaves are used as spices. I don't know if it has anything to do with alfalfa. The book "Shangluo Specialties" compiled by the Shangluo District Local Chronicle Office has some interesting descriptions of fragrant alfalfa. It is said that there is a Dongshui Spring in the main producing area of ??fragrant alfalfa. The spring water is warm in winter and cool in summer, clear and crystal clear. All year round, young girls and young wives gather by the spring to wash their clothes. The good people jokingly call Dongshui Spring "Saihua Pond". Thus there is an interesting story about the fragrant alfalfa growing in Saihuachi Rouge Water. In fact, there are only a few acres of fragrant alfalfa irrigated by Dongshui Spring, but it is the best among fragrant alfalfa. The fragrant alfalfa sold in shops or vegetable stalls in Longju Village is mostly wrapped in straw paper into square tablets, with the words "Longju Village Dongshuiquan Fragrant Alfalfa" written in regular calligraphy as a trademark to attract customers. Since ancient times, when people in Longjuzhai presented earthenware rituals to relatives and friends from other places, they often gave fragrant alfalfa as gifts. In short, this scented clover is quite interesting.

I have tasted steamed pork made with fragrant alfalfa in Danfeng County. The chef told me that the preparation method is similar to ordinary steamed pork. Wash the dried alfalfa, boil until soft, and cut into sections. Wheat flour is fried. Mix the two together, add lard, add sugar, and add appropriate seasoning. Peel and parboil the fatty pork, then slice it into slices. Like steamed pork, put it in a bowl and steam it in a basket. When it is placed on the plate, there are neatly arranged meat slices on the top, and fragrant alfalfa like a soft cushion on the bottom. When you eat it, you will be tainted with the aroma of alfalfa, and the aroma of alfalfa is mixed with the aroma of meat, giving you a unique aroma.