This peddler cries “hsing jen erh ch’a yu” – or “Almond tea oh!”. He carries two round wooden containers suspended on either side of a pole carried on the shoulder, a “t’iao tzu”. In the one carried in front is a small stove to warm the liquid which is carried in a copper bowl. The other wooden container is used to carry the coppers earned from selling the tea and a few extra china bowls.
This almond “tea” is made with a base of rice flour – “mi fen” – to which is added a little sugar and powdered almonds. The mixture is served very hot and is most palatable. It is also a favourite dish at Chinese feasts.
