Qiaqia Sunflower Seeds
The pleasure of breaking with your front teeth! Chinese Conversation Companion "Infinite Sunflower Seeds"
Description
The absolute top brand 'Qiaqia' dominating China's national snack 'Gua Zi' (sunflower seeds etc.) market. Marked by red craft-paper-like packaging. Unlike JP hamster food, it's slow-boiled in salt water and spices like star anise, cinnamon, and licorice (Five Spice), then roasted, making even the outer shell delicious.
Classification: Everyone, Snack, Snack, Gua Zi, Sunflower Seeds, Qiaqia, Tea Companion, Infinite Loop
Shops selling Qiaqia Sunflower Seeds
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The How to use section below is a general reference, not instructions from the listed shops.
How to use
Ingredients
- Sunflower seeds
- Salt
- Spices (Star anise
- Cinnamon
- Licorice
- Fennel etc.)
- Sweetener
Instructions
- [Typical Uses]
- [Infinite Chatting Companion]: While drinking tea, watching TV, or chatting with friends, 'crack' the shell with front teeth and eat only the seed inside. Once started, you won't stop until the floor is a mountain of shells.
- Piled high on Lunar New Year tables.
Learn more Substitutes, pairings, tips
Key spices
Licking the shell tastes sweet-salty from star anise/licorice; the seed inside has roasted nutty depth
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Irreplaceable. JP unsalted sunflower seeds lack this spice vibe)
Pairing
Chinese Tea / Oolong Tea / Watching TV
Trivia
One of the most massively piled items in Asian stores. Besides the original 'Five Spice', variations like Walnut, Caramel, and Teng Jiao (Green Sichuan pepper) show the depth of Chinese 'Gua Zi love'.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Absolute Rule]: NEVER eat the shell. Place the seed vertically between front teeth, 'crack' it, suck out the seed with your tongue tip, and spit the shell out. Chinese do this continuously at unbelievable speeds (Ke Gua Zi).
Allergen
None