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.