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High on the list of delicacies are rare parts like turtle feet, prized for their collagen and supposed health benefits. The concept of eating medicinally potent ingredients extends far beyond turtles, reaching into imperial courts' kitchens where luxury ingredients like crocodile tails and deer penises were used as potent tonics.
In traditional Chinese medicine, deer penis is believed to enhance virility and strengthen the kidneys, making it a prized ingredient in medicinal cuisine for centuries. During the imperial era, food physicians crafted elaborate dishes for emperors featuring such ingredients, showcasing their cultural and historical importance.