Jiaji duck, commonly referred to as “foreign duck” was introduced to Hainan by returning overseas Chinese. They improved the breed in the town of Jiaji on the outskirts of Qionghai City, where further breeding increased the duck’s numbers.
Once upon a time in the town’s Jiaxiang Street, a family surnamed Ding specialized in breeding the foreign duck. Their well-known method involved first feeding the young ducklings fresh water containing small shrimps, earthworms and cockroaches. Then, about two months later, when the duckling’s feathers first appeared, they would limit their range of movement and at the same time feed the ducklings on a mixture of latex and rice pinched into small dumplings. With this force-feeding, within twenty days the ducks became fully grown.
The Jiaji duck’s characteristics are plump flesh, smooth white skin, a thin layer of body fat and a delicious sweet flavors.