When is the Lesser Heat in 2020? Why should we eat eels during the Lesser Heat?

At first glance, Xiaoshu is a solar term in summer, the fifth solar term in summer. After Xiaoman, Xiaoshu begins the midsummer season. So when does Xiaoshu start in 2020? There is a custom of eating eels during Xiaoshu, why is that?

When is the Lesser Heat in 2020?

The Lesser Heat solar term is the fifth solar term in summer, which usually falls between July 6 and 8 in the Gregorian calendar. It is also called the Minor Heat, and the weather starts to get hot at this time.

The Gregorian calendar date of the Lesser Heat solar term in 2020 is July 6, 2020, Monday, and the lunar calendar date is May 16, the Gengxu day of the Guiwei month.

According to the old almanac, the official start time of the Lesser Heat solar term in 2020 is 23:13:23 on July 6.

Why should we eat eels in the Lesser Heat?

"Eels in Lesser Heat are better than ginseng" is an ancient saying in Wuxi. Wuxi people have a tradition of eating eels as a tonic in Lesser Heat.

Eel is also known as yellow eel, which looks like a snake, so it is also called snake fish. It grows in the mud layer at the bottom of rice fields, ponds, lakes, etc. It is produced all over the country, mainly in the Yangtze River Basin, Liaoning, Tianjin and other places. It can be caught in all seasons, and those caught around the beginning of the summer are the fattest.

The eel has only one three-edged spine on its body. Its meat is tender and delicious. It is rich in protein, lecithin, DHIA, etc. It can promote the development of the human brain, improve memory, and has the effect of nourishing the brain and strengthening the body. It was often used as a medicinal food in ancient times.

The eel has a thick head and a thin tail, is round and slender, has a yellowish-brown color, and a smooth body without scales. It is best to buy those that are covered with abundant mucus, have a shiny yellowish-brown color, swim agilely, and have no external injuries or diseases. Avoid buying dead eels.

Tips for eating eels during the Lesser Heat

1. The eel meat is delicious, with less bones and more meat. It is suitable for various cooking methods such as stir-frying, sautéing, and roasting. If it is stewed with chicken, duck, pork and other meats, the taste is even more delicious. It can also be used as an ingredient for hot pot.

2. Eel blood plus a little musk can be used to treat facial paralysis. If the left side is crooked, apply it to the right side, and if the right side is crooked, apply it to the left side.

3. Eels should be killed and cooked immediately. The histidine in the dead eels will be converted into toxic substances and cannot be eaten.

4. Recommended recipe: Ginseng eel soup

Ingredients: 500 grams of eel, 15 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 15 grams of Angelica sinensis, 10 grams of ginger, and appropriate amount of salt.

Preparation method: Kill the eel, clean it, cut it into sections, cut the Codonopsis pilosula and Angelica sinensis into sections, slice the ginger, put them into the pot, add appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat first, skim off the foam, then continue to simmer over low heat for 1 hour, and add salt to taste.

Health-preserving effects: warms the yang and replenishes qi, promotes blood circulation and dredges the meridians. It is suitable for patients with qi and blood deficiency, fatigue and sequelae of stroke.