In 2008, Laoyou rice noodles (old friend rice noodles) were selected into the list of intangible cultural heritage of Guangxi for protection purpose. In June 2018, Nanning enacted foods safety standards for Laoyou rice noodles applicable to the pre-packaged. Speaking of on-site cooking Laoyou rice noodles, the ingredients selection and views of different sellers vary in many ways.
In the eyes of Huang Xueying, inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage -- Laoyou rice noodles, a bowl of authentic Laoyou rice noodles must have sour bamboo shoots, fermented soya beans, Laoyou sauce, sour pepper and pickled lean meat, where the sour bamboo shoots and fermented soya beans are the essence. As introduced by Huang, authentic Laoyou rice noodles have particular requirements for texture, taste and traditional cooking techniques. For example, the sour bamboo shoots must be local and be soaked and fermented in rice water, and the sourness of the soup should be seasoned by the sour bamboo shoots-soaked water when cooking the noodles. The sequence of adding the ingredients when cooking the noodles is also important: minced garlic first, followed by the fermented soya beans, minced meat and others. In the words of Huang Liang, a gourmet of Nanning, eating Laoyou rice noodles is a feeling of attachment. A time-honored restaurant carries the memories of many generations. When you get used to a taste, you just believe that it is authentic.