What three kinds of snacks do the "three-year-old cold friends" in Beijing temple fair snacks refer to?
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Generally speaking, the three friends of Lao Han are called pine, bamboo and plum. However, in the early years of Beijing, there was a so-called "three friends in winter and cold", but it was not pine, bamboo and plum, but "half empty", frozen persimmon and begonia red.
The so-called "half empty" is peanuts with thin nuts. At that time, the general dried fruit merchants bought a large number of peanuts, selected their fat and thin, and priced them according to the goods. Empty but untrue peanuts have the lowest value. Merchants buy them and fry them thoroughly. With a sweet smell, sold to lovers, named "half empty." In the cold alleys in winter, there are often vendors carrying sacks and selling "Half empty, give more". Residents always like this kind of food. Children can buy a lot for a little money, but they also like this kind of food. Although the peddler carried a bag of marijuana, it was not heavy, simple and easy to sell, and soon sold out, and returned satisfied. Occasionally, cunning vendors mix fat peanuts with "half empty" and sell them in piles until customers buy them.
Another "friend" is "frozen persimmon". Persimmon is a fruit that ripens in autumn. Beijing Xishan and Beishan have the most abundant output. When persimmons first came into the market, vendors shouted: "Pumpkin-the big persimmon in the astringent game for a change!" After the first frost, the peddling was changed to: "Drink honey-big persimmon!" With these two shouts, we can know the difference between autumn persimmon and winter persimmon. In the early maturity stage, persimmon has a thick skin and a very astringent taste. If it is artificially "simmered", it is red and sweet, and it tastes crisp. When the first frost came, the persimmon was ripe and the astringency disappeared completely, but the meat was ripe and turned into honey juice, so the vendor described it as "drinking honey". In winter, after the severe cold, persimmon juice is frozen and sliced with a sharp knife to make food cool, which has the functions of moistening dryness and facilitating defecation. At that time, some people said that they could get angry. I wonder if this statement is scientific.
The third friend is "Haitanghong". The so-called "begonia red" is actually a kind of begonia that becomes completely red in winter. This begonia has been frozen solid after severe cold, and many street vendors sell it, and most of the buyers are children. This kind of begonia, holding the handle in hand, takes a bite in the mouth and is cold through the roots. When I was young, I was always happy to do so. Every time I play with children, I hug them, which makes everyone blink and laugh frequently. When we are naughty, we will pick up the frozen begonia with chopsticks and bake it by the fire, and the ice of begonia will gradually melt; Bake for a while, often squeaking because the skin of begonia is broken, and then put it in the mouth. Only children know the fun of cold and hot taste. Because the whole body of begonia is red, the juice overflows during baking and the color is bright, so it is called "begonia red".
The trinity of "half empty", "frozen persimmon" and "begonia red" is a unique enjoyment for Beijingers. Some vendors specialize in this kind of "old cold three friends".