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While the festive spirit of Chinese New Year is still going strong, I thought it'll be fun and somewhat whimsical to describe some of my favorite Chinese delicacies, just for the sake of it (and to hint to anyone that wants to take me out for a meal...*wink wink*) I didn't think that being a Chindian with ''banana'' interests would make me like the following really traditional Chinese food, but what can I do? They're all too good. :)
Without further ado, here's the list:
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Hakka Lui Cha 客家擂茶 - My favorite Chinese dish among all dishes. It's healthy but tasty at the same time. Lui Cha is made up of rice eaten together with many different kinds of green vegetables and herbs, together with a tea and nut-based "soup". There's a restaurant near my place in Puchong, Restoran An Sim, that Lui Cha stall I frequent every single time I passed by that area. It's the best I've tasted so far, and it was introduced to me by a former colleague (who's not Chinese...talk about Lui Cha winning the hearts of Malaysians regardless of race!) If you like vegetables, healthy stuff and herbal stuff then I bet you'd enjoy Lui Cha. I find it a little odd that some of my ''pure'' Chinese friends don't like this, but oh well, I guess it's an acquired taste, like wine.
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Herbal Tea Eggs 茶叶蛋 - They're normal eggs to begin with, but when boiled in a herbal spice mix for hours they become these sweet herbal goodies that taste ten times better than normal eggs (for me that is). Easily found in malls and street-side vendors, herbal tea eggs are a favorite small snack 小吃 for many people. I find myself digging out all the egg from the shell and even sucking on the shell just to taste the herbal gravy. (Not a refined practice that I'd recommend though, haha!)
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Herbal Soups 药材汤 - can be prepared in many, many forms, but I love those that have ginseng in it. And wolfberries. That sweet/herbal/mildly bitter thing going on in the soup. The longer the soup is boiled + the amount of spices used = the more stronger the herbal flavor, which I love, but some people prefer them milder. Whatever your taste, herbal soup is refreshing and healthy, too - getting rid of all the oil and "heat" from meats and main meals :)
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Turtle Jelly 龟令膏 - sweet and mildly bitter dessert usually served cold. It can be eaten by itself or after meals. There's people selling it in jelly form combined with nata de coco to make it sweeter, but I actually prefer the original jelly alone. I wonder...was it really made out of turtle shells, hence it's name?
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Tang Yuan/Glutinous balls 汤圆 - prepared by most Chinese families during the Winter Soltice festival in December, but with dessert shops popping up all over town, it can be found year-round. Sweet and sticky, yet 'plain' enough not to overpower with flavor - what more can I ask for? The ''stuffing'' is good with anything sweet, from the traditional sesame/lotus paste to even chocolate, it's hot soup and sweet balls make for a nice ending to meals.
Next time I write about food, I'll introduce some traditional Indian foods that I like/eat, the kind you don't always find in Mamak stalls :) Until next time...
