Old Beijing Snack ยท Tea in Name Only
Mian Cha (Proso Millet Porridge with Sesame Paste)
Photo: AddisWang / Wikimedia Commons ยท CC BY-SA 3.0
Despite the name, today's Beijing mian cha contains no tea, though a mian cha recipe in Yuan Mei's 1792 cookbook Suiyuan Shidan was made by thickening brewed coarse tea with toasted flour.
A thick, savory porridge of proso millet flour (now often millet or corn flour), covered with a layer of sesame paste and sprinkled with salted sesame.
Why it's made this way: A traditional old-Beijing snack, still a standard item at old-style snack shops such as Huguosi Snacks on Huguosi Street.
More from China
Roujiamo (Braised Pork in Flatbread)
Chuan'r (Grilled Meat Skewers)
Youtiao (Fried Dough Stick)
Tanghulu (Candied Hawthorn Skewers)
Malatang (Self-Serve Spicy Broth)
Beibingyang (ๅๅฐๆด) Orange Soda
Part of World of Street Food โ 3441 dishes from 118 countries.
Something wrong here? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo credits.