The noodles with Xun oil are the characteristic noodles of Changshu, Suzhou. Xun is a kind of wild mushroom, and this kind of pine mushroom is a specialty of Changshu. Changshu people customarily use quality rapeseed oil to cook pine nuts into Xun oil, and the chewy noodles are topped with a spoonful of the Xun oil, and then served with fresh soup made of mushrooms and bamboo shoots. It is very savory, with a strong flavor from the mountains.
It can be said that Changshu people are awakened by a bowl of noodles in the morning. There is an established noodle restaurant called Wangyue Tower near Xingfu Temple, and its noodle with Xun oil is said to be one of the best. The toppings of this noodle are simple, but it is exactly how the simple toppings maximize the savor of the noodle. Therefore, there is also a local saying that “if you have tasted the pine mushroom, you will not miss meat for three days.” You can imagine how important a small bowl of noodle with Xun oil is in the hearts of Suzhou people.
The thin noodles are served in Suzhou-style red soup. The noodles are laid neatly in a bowl, and brown mushroom pieces are sprinkled on top. The red soup and white noodles, coupled with the finishing touch of the Xun oil, all increase diners’appetite. It’s no wonder that a spoonful of Xun oil makes the vegan noodles of Xingfu Temple the “king of vegan noodles” in the region south of the Yangtze River.
