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Snake soup (Cantonese: 蛇羹, Pinyin: she geng) is a popular Cantonese delicacy and health supplement in Hong Kong, which contains the meats of at least two types of snakes as the main ingredients. The soup tastes slightly sweet because of the addition of chrysanthemum leaves and spices, while the snake meat in the soup is said to resemble the texture and taste of chicken meat.〔〔(Slurping snake soup in Hong Kong ), ''Seattle Times'', Kabir Chibber (2009).〕 Snake soup is usually served in specialised stores known as "Snake King" or "Shea Wang" (literal meaning: an expert in cooking snakes), mostly located in Shum Shui Po and Kowloon City, in fall or winter season for approximately $60 HKD ($7.75 USD) per bowl.〔 Originated centuries ago during the Era of Warring States, snake soup has been lauded in Chinese culture for its alleged medicinal benefits and high nutritional value. However, there are concerns in recent years that the snake soup industry in Hong Kong is on the decline because soup makers have few people to whom to pass on their skills.〔Pak, Jennifer ("Last orders for Hong Kong's snake soup?" ) BBC (2013).〕 ==Historical background== Snake soup has been considered a delicacy in Chinese culture for over two thousand years. Pre-Qin's Shanhaijing recorded that inhabitants in Guangdong province started to consume snake soups; and the eating culture was widely popularised in China at the end of Qing Dynasty.〔〈淮南子〉 精神訓「越人得髯蛇以為上肴，中國得之無用」Liu An, (2nd-century BCE ). 'Seminal Breath and Spirit'. In: (ed), Huáinánzǐ . 1st ed. China: 明 李時珍在他的著作《本草綱目》中記：「南人嗜蛇」 Li ShiZhen, (1578). Compendium of Materia Medica. 1st ed. China 唐 段公路〈北戶錄〉、段成式 〈酉陽雜記〉 也有廣東人吃蛇的記載 宋 朱沃在〈萍州可談〉中指出：「廣南食蛇，市中賣蛇羹」 太史五蛇羹是南方粤菜系中一道著名的菜肴，自晚清時期由人稱江太史的江孔殷發明〕 Snake soup was regarded as a “high-status”〔 dish because of its varied ingredients and complicated preparation, it was the symbol of wealth, bravery and respect; and was only served to certain officials and celebrities. “Snake King Lam” was the first store specialising in selling snake soup in Hong Kong, which was set up on Bonham Street 110 years ago, but has relocated to Hillier Street in the same district. The snake-soup industry reached its golden period in the 1980s when there were over 100 eateries that prepared snake soup. Some stores in Hong Kong even had to open new branches to cope with the high demand.〔"Snake King Lam". ''Hong Kong Connection'', RTHK, 21 March 2013.〕 Nowadays, the number of stores specialising in snake-soup has dropped down to 20 because of food price inflation and soaring rent. More importantly, it is also difficult for snake-soup makers to find successors. Fewer people enter the profession because of perceived hardship, danger and difficulty involved in the process, which requires frequent contact with venomous snakes.〔(Hong Kong 'snake kings' stand the test of time ). Agence France-Presse (2013).〕 Moreover, severe supply problems caused by bureaucracy involved in snake importation are matched by the erratic pattern of demand from customers. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Snake soup」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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