The use of alkaline water is different in the north and the south. In Hubei and north of the Yellow River, people like to add edible alkali to steamed bread, noodles, cakes and porridge.
When making steamed bread, alkali is added. First, it neutralizes the sour taste of flour. Second, steamed bread is more chewy. Third, steamed bread has the original flavor of wheat.
Adding alkali to noodles will make them stronger. Especially the popular Regan Noodles. Regan Noodles noodles and alkali are very important ingredients in noodle making. There is a folk saying that salt is bone and alkali is tendon. Can be found in Regan noodle article. Both salt and alkali are necessary.
There are all kinds of cakes made of flour. People also like to add alkali to cakes, which makes them crisp to eat. More delicious. As for porridge, people add alkali to make porridge look more viscous. Visible. Alkali plays an important role in people's diet.