Summer Solstice Snacks

THEsummersolsticeisoneofthe24solartermsintheChineselunarcalendar.ItisatraditioninChinatoeatwontonsonthedayofthewintersolsticeandnoodlesonthesummersolstice.However,preferencesandvarietiesofnoodlesdiffergreatlybetweennorthernandsouthernareas.InsouthernChina,somefavoritesincludeplainnoodles,drynoodles,noodleswithshreddedmeat,seafoodnoodles,and鈥渃rossing-thebridge鈥漴icenoodles(anoodlesouporiginatinginYunnanProvince).InnorthernChina,peopleprefernoodleswithsoybeanpaste,sesamesauce,muttonorbeef.Thenorthernersprefertofirstcookthenoodles,andthenaddastir-friedmixtureofvegetables,eggormeatontothem,addinginChinesepricklyashoil,vinegar,slicedcucumber,slicedgarlic,andslicedharicotbean.Thenoodlesareespeciallydeliciousintheswelteringsummer.

Besidesnoodles,therearemanyotherfamoussnacksBeijinglocalslovetoeatinthesummer.

IceBowlThisfoodbecameastapleofBeijingsnacksduringtheQingDynasty(1644-1911),andwasonceapopularsummersnackservedontheLotusMarketbytheShichaLakeincentralBeijing.PeddlersusedtosellicebowlsfromtheDragonBoatFestivalinearlyMayuntiltheMid-autumnFestivalinlateSeptember.Theprocessofmakinganicebowlisrelativelysimple.Ingredientssuchasslicedlotusroot,lotusseeds,walnuts,almonds,waterchestnuts,andgorgonfruitsareallmarinatedinsugarysyrupandthenaddedontoalotusleaflaidonalargeblue-and-whiteporcelainplateorsimplyinaglassbowl.Icecubesareplacedontoptocombatthesummerheat.

PlumSyrup

ThisisatraditionalsummerbeverageinBeijing.Oneofthemostfamousandtime-honoredbrandstomakethisdrinkisXinyuanzhai,establishedin1740,thefifthyearofEmperorQianlong鈥檚reignintheQingDynasty.Ingredientsincludeblackplums,driedhawthornslices,driedtangerinepeel,licorice,brownsugar,andgreengage.Theyaretossedintoabigpotandboiledtogetheruntiltheycondenseintoaliquid.Thedrinkisespeciallypopularinsummerbecauseitcanhelpproducesaliva,quenchthirst,aswellasclearawayinnerheatanddetoxifythebody.

AlmondJellyWithitswhitejadecolorandsweetandsmoothtaste,thisisoneofBeijing鈥檚mostfamousdesserts.ItusedtobeservedintheimperialcourtandwasoneofthefoursweetdishesoftheManchuHanImperialFeast.Thepreparationissimple.Prepare200galmondjuice,200gmilk,4gagar,andsomebrownsugar.Boiltheagarinapotuntilitismelted,addthealmondjuiceandmilk,stirevenlyandpourintoacontainer,thenplaceitintotherefrigerator.Boilthebrownsugarandwatertomakesyrupandcoolitintherefrigeratortoo.Whenthedishisserved,cutthealmondjellyintocubesandaddthecooledsyrup,garnishingwithdicedwatermelonormango.

BuckwheatCakeandBeanJellyUsebuckwheatpowdertomakeasoftdough,steamit,andletitcoolintherefrigerator.Slicethedoughandaddsomesesamesauce,soysauce,vinegar,mustard,slicedcucumber,andsaltedradish,orchillioil.

Beanjellyismadeofmungbeanstarch,whichisstirredevenlywithwaterandthenmadeintothedough.Cutitintobulks,strips,orfishlikeshapes.Thecrystalandtranslucentjellycanbeservedwiththesameseasoningsaswhatthebuckwheatcakeisgarnishedwith.C

TONGCHANGYOUisaBeijingCuisinemasterandamemberofboththeChinaCuisineAssociationandtheBeijingCuisineAssociation.