Sweet Things From a Sweet Jing
I’d like to send out a hearty Dave’s Wagon “thank you” to site commenter and all-around hao pengyou, Jing, for sending me this crazy Chinese candy for my birthday. Jing is one of the Chinese exchange students I met at my university through my Chinese studies, and she’s been wonderfully selfless in helping me learn her language.
All this help aside, however, I still can’t understand a thing that’s written on this candy. Not that that matters. Candy isn’t meant to be understood; it’s meant to be eaten.
The small green packet, however, contains something that definitely is not candy. The odor that escaped the thing when I tore it open was so noxious I couldn’t bring myself to try a wad of the damp, clumped pieces of what I can only hope is fruit. (If you can confirm for me what these are, Jing, maybe I’ll work up the courage to sample a piece).
The other candy turned out to be decent. Obviously the Chinese are not known for their sweets, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll be reaching for another one of these brands in the future. Then again, if these cough drop bag-packagings with mascots by Microsoft Clipart are the norm, I might not be able to find these brands again.
I hope I’m not coming off as ungrateful if you’re reading this Jing (and I know you are). After getting off a string of 12-hour shifts at my job, nothing could have made me happier than opening this and the rest of your gifts. Your sweets and sweetness are greatly appreciated.
Of course, while the Chinese may not be experts at vacuum-sealed diabetes inducers, they do work wonders when it comes to the main courses and to their many teas. Jing herself can do more with a bag of frozen vegetables and some oil than the average American could do with a whole produce section at their disposal. Once I hit the mean streets of Hangzhou, I’ll post some more on my impressions of true Chinese cuisine, complete with tempting photos to mock you with sumptuous feasts that lay thousands of miles from your grasp.
Jing, if only you could be there as well to cook for…er…accompany me during my stay. ‘Tis a shame.
You will see those brands everywhere in China. Every city I visited had the same foods, for the most part. We were a big fan of the gummi’s that are included there. The rest of them of them though, not so good. Be open to try new things, the mulberry triangle things were awesome.
You’ll be so busy with the different types of Chinese cuisine you won’t have time to write about them all =)
↓ Quote | Posted July 27, 2006, 3:46 pmThe green package in the bottom left corner with the rabbits on it is full of dried pickled radish (though many Chinese will tell you, wrongly, it is carrot).
↓ Quote | Posted July 28, 2006, 6:35 pmThanks. I fear the unknown. Especially eating the unknown.
↓ Quote | Posted July 29, 2006, 4:21 amThat small green packet, i was wondering for a while at first whether i should give it to you or not, cause i know it will be weird to you. But at last, i decided to give one to you, cuz that is a real very common Chinese food. You won’t have it in any restaurant, not because they are special, because they are too common to be a dish in a restaurant. I think your friend already told me what it is, but just as you and me don’t like American pickle, you don’t have to eat it. I just want to show you a very common Chinese food. Even though i don’t like American pickle, i do like these Chinese pickled radish, try one to see if you like it or not.
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 1:29 pmHey, if you want to show your appreciation to you, you can take a picture with the turtle on your head, haha…
And i’m sorry i cannot accompany you during your stay. I strongly wish i could, but i cannot. Anyway, we will have time together in China next time, i’m sure you will be back there again. And i will be waitting for you at that time with all my warm welcomes.
You don’t like pickles? Well I never… Anyways, thought you might enjoy this Chinese junk food review: http://www.sinosplice.com/china/junkfood/
↓ Quote | Posted July 30, 2006, 2:05 pm