[Video/WeChat account: hafbwx]

It is a tradition of Hai'an natives to drink old hen soup during big festivals and events to pray for good luck and a peaceful life.

Hens raised in Hai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Hens farmed in Hai'an not only look pretty but taste delicious when made into soup.

In the olden days, only women who were in confinement were allowed to drink old hen soup, as it was believed to help restore their physical strength and increase the secretion of milk.

A bowl of old hen soup. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Hens raised for more than one year can be cooked in a pot of high-quality soup, and simple cooking techniques bring out the best flavor.

An old hen is cooked with various other ingredients. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

To prepare the dish, first put a clean hen into a pot over a mud stove, pour some water, sliced ginger, spring onions, and cooking wine into the pot, and stew it for two hours after the water starts boiling. When the soup is well cooked, sprinkle on some chopped green onions for an improved aesthetic.