A Quiet Workday in China | Office Life & Chinese Snacks

added just a few dried rosebuds. Once the water boils, the rosebuds. Once the water boils, the rosebuds. Once the water boils, the whole office smells like roses. While the tea was brewing, I checked While the tea was brewing, I checked While the tea was brewing, I checked what needed my attention first. Mornings what needed my attention first. Mornings what needed my attention first. Mornings are usually the busiest part of my day. These are chocolate-covered almonds. These are chocolate-covered almonds. These are chocolate-covered almonds. They're

crunchy, but not too sweet. They're crunchy, but not too sweet. They're crunchy, but not too sweet. Which in China is almost the highest Which in China is almost the highest Which in China is almost the highest compliment you can give a dessert. With the office to myself, the morning With the office to myself, the morning With the office to myself, the morning stayed quiet. stayed quiet. stayed quiet. I replied to clients, followed up on I replied to clients, followed up on I replied to clients, followed up on sales, and checked contracts before sales,

and checked contracts before sales, and checked contracts before lunch. >> At around noon, I had a fresh pork >> At around noon, I had a fresh pork >> At around noon, I had a fresh pork mooncake I'd bought earlier at Sam's mooncake I'd bought earlier at Sam's mooncake I'd bought earlier at Sam's Club. Unlike sweeter mooncakes, this one Club. Unlike sweeter mooncakes, this one Club. Unlike sweeter mooncakes, this one has a flaky crust and a savory pork has a flaky crust and a savory pork has a flaky crust and a savory pork filling.

Mooncakes are traditionally eaten during Mooncakes are traditionally eaten during Mooncakes are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. I had a small carton of milk with it. Then it was back to work until the snack Then it was back to work until the snack Then it was back to work until the snack drawer started calling. This drawer is my office snack supply. This drawer is my office snack supply. This drawer is

my office snack supply. Chinese snacks come in every possible Chinese snacks come in every possible Chinese snacks come in every possible texture and flavor, but today I was in texture and flavor, but today I was in texture and flavor, but today I was in the mood for something spicy. Most of the snacks this drawer come in Most of the snacks this drawer come in Most of the snacks this drawer come in small individual packets, so I can keep small individual packets, so I can keep small individual packets, so I can keep several flavors here without opening

several flavors here without opening several flavors here without opening everything at once. First, latiao seasoned wheat gluten First, latiao seasoned wheat gluten First, latiao seasoned wheat gluten strips and a classic Chinese snack. strips and a classic Chinese snack. strips and a classic Chinese snack. They're chewy, savory, and seriously They're chewy, savory, and seriously They're chewy, savory, and seriously spicy. Latiao is the kind of snack that Latiao is the kind of snack that Latiao is the kind of snack that immediately makes you want a cold

drink. immediately makes you want a cold drink. immediately makes you want a cold drink. An ice-cold Coke would have been perfect An ice-cold Coke would have been perfect An ice-cold Coke would have been perfect right now. Next was a spicy konjac snack. Konjac Next was a spicy konjac snack. Konjac Next was a spicy konjac snack. Konjac comes from a plant and is used in many comes from a plant and is used in many comes from a plant and is used in many foods for its distinctive texture. >> Compared with Latiao, the konjac is >> Compared with

Latiao, the konjac is >> Compared with Latiao, the konjac is softer and bouncier, but it carries just softer and bouncier, but it carries just softer and bouncier, but it carries just as much spicy seasoning. Then a rice cracker made from rice, Then a rice cracker made from rice, Then a rice cracker made from rice, light, crisp, and completely different light, crisp, and completely different light, crisp, and completely different from the chewy snacks before it. After two spicy snacks, this simple rice After two spicy snacks, this simple rice After

two spicy snacks, this simple rice cracker gave my taste buds a welcome cracker gave my taste buds a welcome cracker gave my taste buds a welcome break. I saved a tiny cup of jelly for last. I saved a tiny cup of jelly for last. I saved a tiny cup of jelly for last. It looked like the easiest snack of the It looked like the easiest snack of the It looked like the easiest snack of the afternoon. For such a tiny cup of jelly, the lid For such a tiny cup of jelly, the lid For such a tiny cup of jelly, the lid put up a surprisingly serious fight. I had

already called that my last snack, I had already called that my last snack, I had already called that my last snack, but apparently I wasn't finished. In a but apparently I wasn't finished. In a but apparently I wasn't finished. In a quiet office, this drawer is very hard quiet office, this drawer is very hard quiet office, this drawer is very hard to ignore. One last snack. One last snack. One last snack. Spicy kelp. Spicy kelp. Spicy kelp. It's salty, chewy, and pleasantly spicy. By this point, I had eaten something By this point, I had eaten something

By this point, I had eaten something crunchy, something chewy, something crunchy, something chewy, something crunchy, something chewy, something sweet, and plenty of things that were sweet, and plenty of things that were sweet, and plenty of things that were spicy. At the end of the day, I washed the At the end of the day, I washed the At the end of the day, I washed the teapot so it would be ready for teapot so it would be ready for teapot so it would be ready for tomorrow. Then I closed my laptop and headed home. Another quiet and very well-fed day at

Another quiet and very well-fed day at Another quiet and very well-fed day at the office. See you next time.