Ejiao
Ejiao (Rectangular block, brownish-black, smooth, glossy, slightly transparent at the edges when illuminated, hard and brittle, softens and becomes sticky at high temperatures)
Ejiao slices
Ejiao pearls
【Name】
【Source】
Superior Grade in the Classic of Materia Medica
【Common Usage Level】
A
【Botanical Source】
Gelatin block made by boiling the skin of the donkey Equus asinus L. (Family Equidae) after removing the hair.
【Characteristics】
Presents as neat, rectangular blocks, usually about 8.5 cm long, 3.7 cm wide, and 0.7 or 1.5 cm thick. The surface is brownish-black or black, smooth, and glossy. Slightly transparent at the edges when viewed against the light. The texture is hard, brittle, and easily broken. The fracture surface is brownish-black or black, smooth, and glossy, softening and becoming sticky at high temperatures. It has a faint odor and a slightly sweet taste. Ejiao pearls: are grayish-white, round, light, and brittle.
【Processing】
1. Ejiao 2. Ejiao pearls (stir-fried with clam shell powder, talc, or Pollen Typhae)
【Identification】
《Zhenglei Bencao》: “The genuine one is made with well water north of A County.” 《Bencao Mengquan》: “The genuine one is brittle and easily broken, clear as water.” 《Bencao Gangmu》: “There are three colors: brown, black, and white. The darker one is better for medicinal use.” “It is generally good to use black donkey skin below the meat.” 《Bencao Gangmu》: “[Shizhen said] Generally, all glues are made from the skins of cattle, buffalo, and donkeys from October to February or March, and donkey skin is superior.” “It should be yellow and transparent like amber, or black and shiny like lacquer to be genuine.” 《Bencao Qiu Zhen》: “The best is black with a green tint and does not soften in summer.” 《Yanfang Xin Bian》: “Ejiao is best if it does not smell bad. The green color is superior.” 《Bencao Si Bian Lu》: “It is often suitable with light, clear, sweet, and bland foods, such as wheat flour, Jing rice, etc.” 《Liang Lie Jianbie》: “All yellow amber colored ones, transparent ones, dark red and transparent ones, and those that do not soften in summer are all good products.”
Good quality Ejiao has a regular shape, uniform color, black and shiny appearance, and is translucent when viewed against the light. It has no obvious oil bubbles or other impurities, is dry, firm, and does not bend. It does not soften in hot weather, and the fracture surface is smooth like glass. It has no abnormal fishy odor and can dissolve in water to form a nearly clear aqueous solution without significant turbidity. The best genuine Ejiao has a clear and fragrant aroma, with a sesame oil scent, and the dissolved liquid is yellowish-white, thick but not sticky. It is also good if the dissolved aroma is slightly fishy, and the liquid is blackish-brown and very sticky. If it is made from mixed skins, it will be opaque, the fracture surface will not be smooth, and it will have a foul odor. The dissolved liquid will have a foul, fishy, and turbid smell.
【Identification Terms】
1. Winter skin: Refers to donkey skin obtained from donkeys slaughtered in winter for making Ejiao. The quality is the best.
2. Summer skin: Refers to donkey skin obtained from donkeys slaughtered in summer for making Ejiao. The quality is the worst.
3. Spring and Autumn skin: Generally refers to donkey skin obtained from donkeys slaughtered in spring and autumn for making Ejiao. The quality is relatively poor.
【Category】
Vertebrates