There's a saying in Guangdong: "No feast is complete without chicken." Whether it's a family banquet, ancestral worship, or entertaining guests, chicken is always the main dish. There are many famous Cantonese chicken dishes, such as poached chicken, shredded chicken, and salt-baked chicken. So, what kind of chicken do Cantonese people like to eat? What are some famous chicken breeds in Guangdong? What are some characteristic chicken dishes in Guangdong? This article compiles eight excellent chicken breeds in Guangdong, with the top three being the three most famous chicken breeds in Guangdong. Let's take a look.
1. Xinyi — Xinyi Three-Yellow Chicken ;
The Xinyi Huaixiang Chicken, named after its place of origin, Huaixiang Town in Xinyi City, is known as the "Three Yellow Chicken" because its feathers, skin, and beak are all yellow. According to farmers, Huaixiang Chickens come in two sizes: large and small. The large chickens are larger with stronger bones and higher-set feet; the small chickens are smaller with finer bones and shorter feet. Overall, Huaixiang Chickens are well-balanced in fat and lean meat, with crispy skin and tender meat, offering a smooth and flavorful taste. They are a delicacy enjoyed at banquets and are highly favored by gourmets both inside and outside Guangdong Province. They are also included in the "Guangdong Provincial Livestock and Poultry Breeds Records." The Xinyi Huaixiang Chicken is hailed as one of Guangdong's "Six Famous Chickens." Live chickens possess the characteristic "three yellows" (yellow beak, yellow feathers, and yellow toes), while the white-feathered chickens (bare-feathered chickens) have light yellow skin, evenly distributed fat on their backs and tails, and delicious meat.
2. Qingyuan — Qingyuan Ma Chicken ;
Qingyuan Chicken, also known as Qingyuan Ma Chicken, is a proud specialty of Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, and enjoys the honor of being a Chinese National Geographical Indication Product. It is listed as one of the 27 superior breeds in the "Chinese Poultry Breeds Catalogue," named for the numerous sesame-like spots adorning the hen's back feathers. Qingyuan Chicken is beloved for many reasons. First, its tender and smooth meat has been renowned since ancient times. Second, due to the influence of its geographical environment and unique breeding methods (completely free-range in bamboo forests, drinking rainwater and eating insects), Qingyuan Chicken meat is even more delicious. Qingyuan Ma Chicken is a favorite ingredient among renowned chefs; whether steamed, braised, stewed, stir-fried, or roasted, it becomes a delicacy. Its golden skin, tender and smooth meat, crisp skin, soft bones, and bright red, flavorful meat make it a unique and beloved delicacy.
3. Huizhou (Boluo County, some say it comes from Longmen County) Three Yellow Bearded Chicken ;
Longmen County in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, is the hometown of the Sanhuang Bearded Chicken, with a long history of breeding. This chicken is also known as "Huanghu Chicken," "Caotou Chicken," or "Shetou Chicken," and is called the Sanhuang Bearded Chicken because of its small tuft of whiskers (the "three yellows" referring to yellow feathers, yellow feet, and yellow beak). The Bearded Chicken is characterized by its broad chest, flat body, short legs, and the distinctive "three yellows and one whisker" features. Compared to other Sanhuang chickens, the Bearded Chicken has thick, snow-white meat, rich fat in its breast and tail, a tender and non-greasy texture, crispy and delicious skin, and a flavorful taste. Regardless of the cooking method, it retains its original deliciousness. The Bearded Chicken is characterized by its broad chest, round body, short and slender legs, thick and tender meat, abundant but not greasy tail fat, soft bones, and excellent color, aroma, taste, and appearance.
4. Hainan — Hainan Wenchang Chicken ;
Wenchang chicken, also known as Cai's chicken, is one of the eight superior chicken breeds in Guangdong, first appearing in the Qing Dynasty. It is also the name of a dish, one of the four famous dishes of Hainan, named after its place of origin, Tanniu Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province. The traditional Wenchang chicken is characterized by its "three smalls and two shorts," meaning a small head, small neck, small feet, short neck, and short feet. The most significant difference between Wenchang chickens and other breeds lies in the local practice of feeding them coconuts. The authentic way to cook Wenchang chicken is to steam the whole chicken, let it cool, cut it into pieces, and serve with Hainanese chicken sauce. Besides the commonly used ginger paste, you can make your own special Hainanese chicken sauce (called "Ten-Point Sauce" by Hainanese people). This special sauce has a sweet and sour flavor and is made with ginger, minced garlic, scallions, a little salt, soy sauce, and drizzled with lime juice.
5. Guangxi — Liangting Native Chicken ;
Liangting Chicken originated in Liangting Village, Tang'an Town, Beiliu City, Guangxi Province. Commonly known as "Liangting Fragrant Chicken," it has been widely raised by locals since ancient times. Free-range in unpolluted natural forests and orchards, it drinks from mountain streams, forages for grass and insects, and eats grains. The chicken has glossy, compact feathers, naturally pale yellow skin, a rich chicken flavor, crispy skin, tender meat, high protein, low cholesterol, and is free of antibiotics and hormones. It is believed to have nourishing, beautifying, and skin-nourishing effects. Liangting Steamed Chicken, one of the "Top Ten Famous Dishes of Guangxi," was selected as a recommended brand in the first Guangxi Top Ten Catering Brands selection event.
6. Zhaoqing (Fengkai County) — Xinghua Chicken ;
Fengkai Xinghua Chicken originates from the Xinghua and Yulao areas of Fengkai County, at the foot of Baima and Qilin Mountains, where the Xijiang and Hejiang rivers converge. For centuries, the hardworking and simple people of Fengkai have passed down the unforgettable flavor of Xinghua Chicken. Legend has it that Mo Xuanxin, a top scholar of the Tang Dynasty, brought Xinghua Chicken, a specialty of his hometown, to the capital for the emperor and his ministers. The emperor was delighted with it, and Xinghua Chicken became a must-have for banquets thereafter. This is the origin of the Cantonese saying, "No banquet is complete without chicken." Xinghua Chicken has thin, crispy skin and fine, easy-to-chew bones, earning it the reputation of "glass skin and sugarcane-like bones." It is a classic ingredient in the Cantonese dish "white-cut chicken." With titles such as "a tribute product with a thousand-year history" and "a famous chicken of Guangdong," Fengkai Xinghua Chicken truly lives up to its reputation. Beneath the pale yellow skin, the tender white chicken is already full of juice. Dip it in ginger and scallions, and take a bite with skin and meat. The refreshing ginger and scallions bring out the freshness of the chicken. Every bite leaves a lingering fragrance in your mouth, making you want more!
7. Yangshan Chicken ;
Yangshan chickens have a long history of breeding and are beloved for their superior physique, plump muscles, tender and delicious meat, strong disease resistance, and good adaptability. (Add details) They are primarily raised through free-range grazing, and their diet consists mainly of corn. This gives Yangshan chickens their distinctive yellow feathers, feet, and skin, as well as their well-developed breast and leg muscles. Consequently, the poached chicken prepared this way has a delicate texture, thin skin, and a rich, fragrant flavor; the bones are also small and easy to chew. Furthermore, Yangshan chicken has a unique flavor that is not greasy even after prolonged chewing, making it a highly sought-after high-end dish at banquets and a prized gift.
8. Zhongshan — Shiqi Chicken ;
The Shalan chicken of Zhongshan is also known as the Sanjiao chicken or Shiqi chicken. This bird is mainly produced in Sanjiao Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, and is considered one of the region's high-quality poultry breeds. Shalan chickens are famous for their poached chicken characteristics: thin skin, tender meat, low fat content, and vibrant color. They have been sold to Hong Kong and Macau since the 1920s. Originally called Shalan chicken because they originated in Shalan Village, Sanjiao Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, they were later also known as Shiqi chicken as these birds were transported to Guangzhou and Hong Kong/Macau via Shiqi. People in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau prefer to eat high-quality broiler chickens with yellow feathers, yellow skin, and yellow claws. In 1986, the Shalan chicken was listed in the "Guangdong Provincial Livestock and Poultry Breeds Records," becoming one of Guangdong Province's high-quality local chicken breeds.
