Each place has its own specialties, which may not be understood by others, but must be a favorite of the locals. If it can capture the hearts of more people, it is also a special pride.
Coordinates Chongqing, not far from the main city of the surrounding districts and counties, Jiangjin is a good place. When it comes to Jiangjin, in addition to the old white dry, everyone's deepest impression is the rice candy. This unique delicious snack connects countless memories of the People of Jiangjin. Although it has become commonplace today, it is precisely because it is deeply rooted in our daily life that it feels very intimate.
The first memories of rice candy are the time I spent with my grandmother as a child. At that time, a bag of rice candy plus a bottle of old white dried formed the standard configuration when visiting relatives. The combination of the two of them has become the existence of today's share of money. It can also be seen from this that rice candy was precious at that time.
At that time, rice candy was usually wrapped in oil-paper. The translucent oil paper vaguely reveals the rice candy inside, and the package is torn open by hand, and a piece of attractive rice candy is displayed in front of you. In addition to glutinous rice, black sesame seeds, peanuts, and walnuts, the most endearing thing is rose candy. Although it is rare, as long as you can eat a little, it is also particularly satisfying.
There are many kinds of rice candy, and the most memorable one in Jiangjin is naturally the rose card. To tell the history of rice candy, we must first start with its predecessor "fried rice candy boiling water". "Fried rice candy" is a traditional snack, the main raw materials are glutinous rice and brown sugar, combined with boiling water to mix and eat.
The two brothers Chen Hanqing and Chen Liquan, in the process of running a candy store, in order to be able to innovate, are no longer limited to the wholesale of candy from other families, they are determined to develop a new type of candy on their own. Therefore, on the basis of the traditional "fried rice candy", the production process was innovated. The yin rice sand was changed to puff pastry, the brown sugar was replaced by white sugar, and peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds and other accessories were added, gradually forming the prototype of today's rice candy.
When the Chen brothers began to start their business, they were still in the Republic of China period, and the history has spanned a hundred years. And puff pastry was also successfully introduced in 1924. After a long period of baptism, rice candy has become the most common delicacy in everyone's daily life, and among them, there is an insistence on tradition and an innovation for development.
As the most important raw material for rice sugar, glutinous rice needs to be strictly screened first, which is a key first step. The glutinous rice is then washed, soaked in 10 hours after washing, and then steamed into zèng seeds. After steaming, the glutinous rice is placed on a bamboo mat to cool naturally, and the production of yin rice is completed.
Yin rice also needs to be put into a pot for stir-frying, while adding sugar boiling water, stirring the two well and then starting the pot. Then let it cover for a while, then dry it, followed by the process of puff pastry. When the oil is crispy, the oil temperature should not be too high, generally around 150 degrees, put the prepared yin rice into the oil pot, and wait until the puff pastry is brewed.
The last link is sugar making, put the sugar into the pot, add water to boil, wait until the sugar in the pot boils, put the yin rice that was crispy before, along with peanuts, walnuts, etc., into the pot, stir well, let the sugar closely combine them together. After that, sprinkle black sesame seeds and rose candy on the surface, and then trim the appearance and shape, and the rice candy is basically finished. All that's left is to cut and encapsulate.
After a long period of time, many of the production processes of rice candy still adhere to the traditional handiwork. Although the level of mechanization has been highly developed, there are still cases in which rice candy, a traditional food, cannot be replaced by machinery. In the key production of yin rice and puff pastry, manual control is still indispensable.
Rice candy, as a confectionery food, contains extremely high calories and will have a strong feeling of fullness after use. In addition to the most convenient direct consumption, returning to tradition, it is also a good choice to use boiling water. Divide large pieces of rice candy into small pieces, place them in a bowl or cup, and add boiling water. The moment boiling water comes into contact with the rice candy, you can hear the crispy sound, stir it slowly with a spoon, and then enjoy it.
Today, the rice candy has returned to its most important role, and is regarded as a mutual gift. Friends from other places have come, and it is also very appropriate to send them as a specialty. This has forced rice candy manufacturers to start innovating. Although the basic production process has not changed much, there are more possibilities in terms of packaging form and taste selection.
Rose brand rice candy, the most classic traditional packaging has always insisted, and the introduction of the twelve gold noodles, making it a better choice for gift-giving. Using the twelve gold noodles as a packaging pattern, each figure is presented, and perhaps it can become a new collection for collectors.
In order to cater to the taste needs of different groups of people, in addition to the traditional sweet taste, pepper and salt flavor, fruit flavor, and even spicy taste have come into being. It's strange to say, but there will always be people who like the taste. Maybe niche, but it's characteristic enough.
Rose brand rice candy, along the way, has also received many honors. From the famous trademarks of Sichuan Province to the famous trademarks of Chongqing Municipality, to the time-honored brands of China and the intangible cultural heritage of Chongqing Municipality. Under these honors, rose brand rice candy continues to persevere, but we also see a lot of compromises that have to be made.
The price change of rice candy should be the most obvious for everyone, and the increase in raw materials and labor costs is expected by everyone. However, when the most familiar rice candy has become some sense of distance, it will still make people feel sad. At the same time, the loss of many traditions makes people wonder.
The traditional oil-paper encapsulation is now largely invisible, replaced by plastic packaging, which is more transparent and intuitive, but feels that it lacks a taste. Not only that, rose candy, which was originally rare, is now even more difficult to trace. The famous rose rice candy, in addition to the rose on the package, the rice candy is less interesting.
Starting from a simple snack that seems ordinary, rice candy has undergone a process of nobility to ordinary daily life. Although he has been seeking innovation and change, he has also lost some traditions. Whether under the pressure of market competition or in the pursuit of higher profits, this approach is always debatable. Maybe we will never get back the taste of the past, but at least let us keep the good memories.