Top 12 Most Popular Chinese Snacks

For every Chinese, there are always some snacks that he or she likes. 12 most popular Chinese snacks are listed below with brief introductions. Some of these savory Chinese snacks may have become popular in recent years, while some of them have been favored for several hundred years.
 

Speaking of Chinese snacks reminiscent of childhood, the first thought coming out from most people’s minds must be the Latiao. Latiao is not only a popular snack in China and in vogue also in foreign countries, especially the brand Weilong. The taste of the Spicy Gluten is a magical combination of hot and sweet. The inviting aroma will strike your nose the moment you open the package. According to most people, the gluten strips are so pliable that it will feel like eating spicy ‘chewing gum’, and the aroma will linger in the mouth.

A vendor selling homemade Latiao

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Stalls selling baked sweet potatoes are easy to find at the street corners, especially during winter in northern regions. These stalls usually have a big oven in which the sweet potatoes are baked. In the cold winter, holding a steaming hot baked sweet potato to eat can make you feel warm. Nowadays, most people also put baked sweet potato on the barbecue menu. Some may wrap the sweet potatoes in tinfoil and throw them on the fire. The aroma will be smelt after a few minutes.
 

The Stinky Tofu is a wide-spread Chinese snack and you can easily find it in booths by the roads or along snack streets. As its name indicates, it does smell stinky and some even look black. Screw up your courage to take one bite and you will be certain to feel surprised by its special texture. The fried bean curd is crunchy outside and soft inside, and spicy sauce poured on its surface brings a little more flavor to the snack.
 The pot-stewed duck’s neck is a specialty food and usually served as an appetizer or a dish to go with wine. The duck necks will be pickled in a special brine with several spices to infuse flavor. Forks or chopsticks don’t work well here. Just eat it with your fingers and drink glasses of beer while eating. Although there’s not much meat, the aroma of various spices will fill your mouth while you such juice and meat from the bones.
 

Bingtang Hulu is a traditional savory Chinese snack. This Chinese snack recipe is stringing fruits, including Chinese hawthorn berries, kiwifruit, strawberry, grape, orange and even walnut with bamboo skewers and coated with a thin layer of melted sugar. After cooling down, it tastes sweet and crisp outside and sweet and a little sour inside. It’s very popular in winter in northern China and vendors can be found easily in the streets and alleyways.
 

Sachima is a kind of traditional pastries in Beijing, which was even listed on the imperial menu during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). This ancient Chinese snack is mainly made of flour and eggs. Fried in hot honey, melted sugar and cream, Sachima has a golden crispy crust and tastes sweet and fluffy. The interesting texture has been widely welcomed by people, especially women and children.
 

This is also a memory of childhood for many Chinese people. As the name suggests, Green Bean Cake is mainly made of green beans. It is because green beans can clear the inner heat that makes Green Bean Cake the most popular snack in summer. For northerners, this Chinese snack recipe contains no oil and the cake tastes soft and sweet. In southern China, a little oil is added to make it more delicate.

Sugar-coated Peanuts

Chinese like to eat nuts and seeds in their spare time. The especially popular ones are sunflower seeds. In addition to the traditional salty flavor, there is caramel flavor, cream flavor and original flavor, etc. Peanuts, watermelon seeds and pumpkin seeds are also common. In addition, roasted chestnuts, almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts are also very delicious and popular. They are available all year round, apart from roasted chestnuts, which being seasonal are more often seen in autumn and winter.
 

In China, both children and adults love Haw Flakes due to its sour and sweet taste and digestive benefits. It’s a round flat flake, which is made from haws and sugar. However, people with a weak spleen or stomach should not eat too many; children when adult teeth are emerging are not advised to eat Haw Flakes frequently as they can affect tooth growth. The popular Chinese snack of the same kind include Haw Rolls, Haw Balls, Haw Cakes, and Haw Strips.
 Back in the old days, Chinese people usually used a big wok to steam rice. After the rice is ready, there was always a layer of crunchy rice crust clinging to the wok. The crispy taste and strong incense of rice of the crust surprised people and won itself a space on the dining table at that time. Nowadays, chefs also sprinkle pepper, salt, or chili powder on its surface to enhance the taste. Some also use the rice crust to make salads or fried dishes.
 

Colorful Shrimp Crackers are the favorite savory Chinese snack for many Chinese people, especially children. They are made from shrimp juice and starch. Chinese usually buy ready-made shrimp crackers and fry them themselves. Take a bite, and you’ll hear a crunching sound. The crisp taste and fresh shrimp flavor give you the pleasure of this snack.
 

The creamy candy is another savory Chinese snack that is considered the symbol of childhood. Unlike other hard candies, it is pliable and chewy, and the mellow milk flavor will fill your mouth after chewing for a few seconds. The most renowned creamy candy brand is the White Rabbit with a jumping rabbit printed on the package. The White Rabbit candy has a cylindrical shape and is coated with a thin layer of edible rice paper, which adds a silky texture to the candies.