Bustling Suburban Market in Yunnan: Snacks & Premium Dried Beef

mild. These cookies are topped with perilla seeds, not chocolate. Perilla seeds are the fruit of the perilla plant. In Chinese medicine, perilla seeds are believed to help relieve coughing. Vendor: These perilla cookies, aren’t they delicious? Another batch of freshly baked plain buckwheat cookies, smelling heavenly. These perilla cookies are golden, crisp, and absolutely delicious! Here are thick-cut pastries with five-nut filling. They’re topped with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Customer: Is this the traditional flavor? Vendor: Yes, the classic

taste! Customer: This pastry is so thick, amazing! Customer: How much is it? Vendor: 20 RMB/kg. Vendor: 9 RMB. This is a mother-and-son sugarcane stall. Sugarcane is a beloved natural snack in China—sweet, juicy, refreshing, and delicious. Yunnan is one of the top sugarcane-producing regions in China. The favorable climate and soil here make the sugarcane exceptionally sweet. Yunnan’s sugarcane is generally very sweet, juicy, and tender. It’s great for eating fresh or for juicing. Fresh sugarcane juice with ice tastes even better. You can also

chill sugarcane juice in the fridge. But don’t store it for more than 6 hours, or it will lose its freshness. Sugarcane is a favorite natural fruit across China. In the past, it was the go-to thirst quencher and energy boost for hardworking farmers. It cools you down and quickly replenishes energy. Looking at these thick, long, fresh sugarcanes, everyone passing by can’t resist a taste. In China, this apple variety is called “Honey Core Apple.” The translucent flesh is honey-like, sweeter than regular apples. These apples are abundant and

affordable here, costing only 1.2 RMB/kg. Do you have Honey Core Apples in your country? There’s an endless variety of large, fresh fruits. People keep arriving to buy fresh, delicious, and affordable foods. This stall sells lamb soup and spiced fried lamb. This is freshly fried spiced lamb. The unique aroma of lamb mixed with the fragrance of spices is mouthwatering. It instantly stirs your appetite, making you crave a taste. This traditional market is incredibly convenient. All the dishes are freshly prepared. People can bring them home to enjoy

without cooking themselves. This is a pork stall. The traditional hair removal method is not only a “cleansing” of the ingredient but also a unique daily sight in the market. The flames meet the pork skin with a faint crackling sound. The hair gradually burns away, releasing a unique charred aroma. (Note: Please do not try this method at home, as indoor use may pose a safety risk due to poor ventilation.) It’s 9:30 AM, and the market is already packed. A variety of root vegetables and tubers are available. Taro is a common ingredient on Chinese

tables. Whether steamed, boiled, in soup, or as a dessert, it’s well-loved. Grilled chicken and duck are relatively cheap here, only 25 RMB each. The fresh honey in the market fills the air with fragrance. This honey extractor is filled with fresh, honeycomb-included honey. Looking at these amber-colored honey-filled honeycombs, it’s tempting to take a big bite! Vendor: If you don’t like it, you can return it! Vendors offer free samples of their honey. Vendor: If you find it tasty, just call me at this number. Fresh pepino melons release a mixed

aroma of pear and cucumber. Pepino melons are refreshing and juicy, perfect for quenching thirst. Their taste is quite mild, ideal for those who enjoy subtle flavors. This stall sells Guandu Baba, the most famous baked pastry in Kunming, Yunnan. The filling usually includes sesame, peanuts, walnuts, and red bean paste. This plain white pastry may look simple, but it’s incredibly delicious. Almost everyone visiting Kunming’s traditional market buys Guandu Baba. Freshly baked Guandu Baba—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. It works as both a

breakfast and a satisfying snack. This is a buckwheat cake without filling, with a fresh and slightly bitter taste. These buckwheat cakes contain no added sugar, perfect for health-conscious individuals. “10 RMB for three.” Customer: She and I each want two buckwheat cakes. I’ll pay! These mobile vendors sell fruits and vegetables from their own farms. I’ve never seen this fruit before. Do you know what it is? This market is one of Yunnan’s busiest, so crowded it’s hard to move. The crowds and lively shouts are part of this traditional

market’s unique charm. It’s full of warmth and street atmosphere. Potatoes are one of the favorite foods in Yunnan. Whether grilled, fried, sautéed, boiled, or stewed, they have a unique flavor. This stall makes seasoned potato balls. They are cooked by first pan-frying. Then, they are mixed with various seasonings and toppings for a delicious treat. Seasonings include green onions, cilantro, spicy powder, crushed peanuts, mint leaves, salt, and vinegar. This simple dish packs a rich flavor. This stall sells various spices. Yunnan cuisine has a

unique and intense flavor, thanks to a range of appetite-stimulating spices. This is green Sichuan pepper powder, a key seasoning in southwest Chinese dishes. This stall sells marbled air-dried beef. These marbled beef strips look nice, but this customer worries they might be a bit fatty. Vendor: Not fatty. These are lean, air-dried beef strips. This air-dried beef is typically made from yellow cattle, with a subtle milky aroma. Locals usually slice and fry it to enjoy. This one is ready to eat—just slice and enjoy. Vendor: 34 RMB. Customer: Slice it

thicker. Vendor: Why? Customer: For pairing with drinks. This spicy air-dried beef is also typically sliced and fried. Vendor: Help yourself to some. Crispy, flavorful, unexpectedly delicious! This stall sells pop-cracked chestnuts. You’ve probably had roasted chestnuts and popcorn. But I bet you’ve never seen, let alone tasted, pop-cracked chestnuts. This is a special chestnut-popping machine, modified from a popcorn machine. Pop-cracked chestnuts are made with fresh, large chestnuts. Announcement: Come try pop-cracked chestnuts—soft, sweet, and

delicious with every bite! Like you, I can’t wait to try the freshly popped chestnuts. The vendor is generous, offering samples to everyone passing by. After 8 minutes, the fresh chestnuts are finally ready. Finally, another batch of fresh pop-cracked chestnuts is ready! Because they retain moisture, pop-cracked chestnuts are juicy. Compared to roasted chestnuts, pop-cracked ones are softer and more tender. If you come to a Yunnan market, be sure to try pop-cracked chestnuts! This stall sells corn and grain puff sticks. Corn and grain puff sticks are

made from corn, millet, and other whole grains. This is a stall that makes gold and silver jewelry on-site. The vendor is making a silver bracelet. This market stretches from the roadside to the village, making it one of the longest traditional markets in Yunnan. This stall sells eye drops. The vendor offers free samples; buy only if satisfied with the effects. These eye drops are mainly for relieving eye strain. Vendor: These eye drops are made from pure Chinese herbs with no side effects. This stall sells stuffed grilled tofu. The tofu is stuffed with

tangy, pickled vegetables. Customer: How much? Vendor: 10 RMB for three. It looks just like a burger. The fresh tofu pairs perfectly with the tangy vegetables. Look how popular stuffed grilled tofu is here! Charcoal-roasted potatoes are one of the most popular snacks on Yunnan streets. This snack emphasizes freshness and natural flavors—the potatoes even have dirt on their skin. This snack is simple yet filling. By noon, some people are leaving with all kinds of snacks and delicacies. While others continue arriving to shop for delicious and practical

foods and goods. Thank you for joining me. I look forward to our next food adventure!