Wenchang Chicken

This ranks amongst China’s top chicken dishes and is an island speciality. In Hainan, people say, “No Wenchang chicken, no banquet!”. The chicken feeds on banyan seeds and fat until it is nine months old when it is confined in a basket in a quiet location away from light. Ground peanut cake, shredded coconut flesh, caltrop, heated cooked rice and other fattening foods are then fed to the chicken. Because of this diet, white fillets of Wenchang chicken are the most well known serving method although it can also be broiled in coconut milk or barbequed and so on. The white fillet processing method and seasonings both have unique characteristics. Wenchang chicken has thin yellow skin, tender white meat and only a few soft bones.