Beijing has a long history and unique food culture, especially in the Ming and Qing dynasties, as there are too many places for the capital to eat, drink and play at the foot of the emperor.
In addition, the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court meals, more exquisite, the birth of the Manchu full table, known as the highest realm of Chinese cuisine culture, its dishes, at least 108, 54 southern cuisine, 54 northern cuisine, a total of 108 dishes, can be called a classic.
See Also: Top 10 Traditional Snacks in China
However, such a famous scene is exclusive to the royal family, which ordinary people can not see, let alone eat, so let’s talk about the famous snacks in old Beijing.

1. The old Beijing Noodles with Soy Bean Paste 老北京炸酱面

Northerners love noodles, and Beijingers are no exception. As the saying goes, the Winter Solstice dumplings the Summer Solstice noodles.
In the past, old Beijingers, whenever the Summer Solstice, had a grand meal of noodles soybean paste.
Of course, not only in summer, but also throughout the year, noodles soybean paste is a favorite of old Beijingers. It is grand because it takes a lot of work to eat this noodle. Whether a bowl of noodles soybean paste is delicious or not, the most important thing is fried sauce. What sauce do you use?
According to the tradition of the old Beijingers, it is best to use Liubiju yellow sauce with sweet noodle sauce from Tianyuan Sauce Garden, other seasonings, pork, spring onions, ginger and garlic, etc., can not be careless, eat noodles with dishes, generally shredded cucumbers, shredded carrots, bean sprouts and so on, this depends on the season, such as spring, Toona sinensis sprouts, can be added, summer, the top flower with spiny cucumbers, cut into shreds, more beautiful.
In short, a good bowl of noodles soybean paste, seemingly simple, but actually tedious, can be called one of the favorite pasta foods of Beijingers.

2. Soybean juice 豆汁

This kind of soybean juice, which Beijing people like to drink, is a word different from soybean milk, but it is thousands of miles apart, and has a unique taste. For those who do not like to drink, it tastes like swill, and is difficult to swallow, which is totally destructive. However, for the old Beijingers who like to drink soybean juice, it is different. At the beginning of the day, if they don’t drink a bowl of soybean juice, they will lose their soul.
It is said that soybean juice had already appeared in the Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, it was introduced into the imperial court and became the imperial food. Even the emperor and his children loved it, not to mention the common people. They simply regarded soybean juice as a treasure, and loved it as a great enjoyment of life, which may never be understood by outsiders.

3. Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour 驴打滚

所谓驴打滚，其实，就是一种糕点，又称豆面糕，用江米皮裹上红豆馅料，再放入黄豆粉中，这么一翻滚，形似驴打滚，故而得名，属于满族传统甜食，清朝时，被列为宫廷食品，后来，大清亡了，此食物，流入民间，成为北京名小吃。不过，还有一种说法，相传是东汉名将马武发明的驴打滚。而元代的典籍中，也有“驴打滚”，所以说，驴打滚真正的来历，估计，不是清朝。

4. Steamed Rice Cakes with Sweet Stuffing 艾窝窝

This is also a kind of cake, which is made of glutinous rice. It is also called Aiwowo. It is said that it was created in the Ming Dynasty. “It’s made of glutinous rice mixed with sesame seeds as a cold cake, and filled with pills as a Wowo”. It is said that the emperor loved eating very much. This is the origin of “Aiwowo”. Later, it was said to be Aiwowo somehow, which may be a misinformation.

5. Sugar Ear 糖耳朵

The sugar ear is a sweet food, also called honey hemp flower. It is brown and yellow in color, soft and soft, sweet and delicious. It is called “sugar ear” because it describes the ear.

6. Fried Liver 炒肝

Among the traditional snacks in old Beijing, fried liver is very famous. It can be said that everyone knows it. Even foreign celebrities come here to taste it. So what is this famous fried liver?
In fact, fried liver is not fried, but rather boiled. In the Song Dynasty, there were also similar foods, called “boiled liver” and “fried lung”. In short, it was just some pig water. In the past, it was all for the poor to eat. It was thick and sticky. What should I do after eating such a bowl? Now, I don’t know why it is becoming more and more divine?

7. Bittern Flapjack 卤煮

In recent years, the fame of braised pork is more famous than that of fried liver, and has almost become the synonym of old Beijing cuisine.
What is braised?
It is said that during the Guangxu period, because the price of Su made meat cooked with streaky pork was expensive, people used pig head meat and pig offal to replace it. After the spread of folk cooking experts, over time, braised fire was formed.
There must be a fire for braising. According to the old Beijing people’s way of eating, the fire requires a well shaped knife, and the tofu is cut into triangles. It is said that the purpose is to give consideration to the taste and absorb enough soup, while the small intestine and lung head should be cut into small pieces. Spoon a spoonful of old soup from the pot, pour it into the bowl, and then order garlic paste, chili oil, tofu milk, leek flower. Hey, that’s a real thing!

8. Pouch Fire 褡裢火烧

Huoshao is a traditional pasta in the north, and it can be divided into many kinds. Beijing Huoshao with bags looks like the bags on traditional clothes, so it gets its name. It is a kind of fried food. It is golden in color, scorched and fragrant. It is delicious. There are fillings in it. Generally, it is pig meat. Let’s say it is a staple food. It is a snack compared with the traditional plain noodles.
Some people say that Beijing is a “food desert”. In fact, it is not true. Beijing has a lot of food, let’s take the cuisine as an example. Sichuan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, and Guizhou cuisine are popular, and a hundred flowers bloom. There are also a variety of snacks. How many of the eight old Beijing cuisines have you eaten?