Advertisement
Sugary Treats & Delicate Creations
The products that go into sweet dishes include red or kidney beans, silver ear fungus (called bai mu erh in Mandarin), sesame seeds, tangerine peel, rock sugar and very little else. Tangerine peel is used widely in Hunan cooking, not just for sweet dishes but also with savoury meats and poultry dishes where its citrus flavour is known for cutting the fat. Even Chinese herbalists sell it as an important medicinal herb for treating various illnesses.
Sesame seeds have a versatility all their own, and they are often ground for making the well-known dessert drink, Sesame Cream, which is enjoyed as a late-night snack. Both the white and black varieties are used in similar ways. They turn up often as a coating ingredient for battered and deep-fried foods.