A new snail noodle shop has opened on Hehui Street in Nanjing, but the foul smell emanating from the shop is preventing neighbors upstairs from opening their windows for ventilation or drying clothes. This news made it to the top trending searches on Baidu on December 10th.
According to a report from Jimo News on December 9th, a ground-floor street-facing shop on Hehui Street in Nanjing recently opened a snail noodle shop. Residents have complained that they can smell the snail noodles as soon as they open their windows every day, describing it as “extremely foul”. The smell lingers until late at night, causing disruptions for children studying at home who end up coughing when exposed to the odor, affecting their ability to concentrate.
After multiple complaints from residents to the environmental protection department, the owner of the snail noodle shop has modified the exhaust pipes and installed air purification equipment, but the smell still persists.
The shop owner expressed helplessness, stating that they have made some improvements: previously, the strong odor was due to the processing of stinky tofu, which is now done in a separate location off-site before bringing it back to the shop for use. Only the scent of pickled bamboo shoots remains, which is a pre-packaged product provided by the main store and used directly in the shop, with no control over the smell.
An employee from the environmental protection department stated that based on online data monitoring after the initial modifications by the shop, the oil fume emissions from the snail noodle shop meet the requirements. However, the issue of unpleasant odors continues to trouble residents living above the shop. While there are standards for oil fume emissions, there is no national standard for odor determination, presenting a dilemma for the authorities.
Contrary to the residents’ sentiments, some diners have praised the shop in the comments section, saying, “The snail noodles in this shop are indeed delicious.”
Snail noodles are a distinctive snack from Liuzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, known for its unique spicy, refreshing, fresh, sour, and hot flavors. It is one of the most iconic local snacks in Liuzhou.
The delicious taste of snail noodles comes from its unique broth, made from snails, mountain herbs, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, various peppers, and other natural spices and seasonings. In 2020, it was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
In recent years, snail noodles have gained popularity on mainland China.
The main source of the foul smell from snail noodles is primarily attributed to the fermentation of the ingredient pickled bamboo shoots. Pickled bamboo shoots are produced by fermenting fresh bamboo shoots soaked for half a month. During the fermentation process, sugars and proteins in the bamboo shoots are converted into various amino acids and organic acids, including volatile compounds like p-cresol, which emit a strong foul odor, making it the primary source of the pungent smell.
Furthermore, snails themselves contribute to the odor, as a type of mollusk containing glands that secrete a foul-smelling liquid. If the snails are not thoroughly cleaned, this smell can affect the taste of the snail noodles.
Additionally, odors can also come from the broth used in snail noodles, typically made by boiling bones. During the boiling process, these bones can produce unpleasant odors that, if not properly managed, can affect the overall aroma of the snail noodles.
One netizen, “一念天堂in,” expressed, “One either loves or hates snail noodles to death!”
While “知否之否應是綠肥紅瘦MfZ” remarked, “Snail noodles are fragrant, but let’s not let the odor affect the neighbors! Boss, keep up the improvements!”