August 31, 2011

Beans and Seeds at a Sunday DRY Market in Mengzi ofYunnan

Shops in Yunnan are opened everyday. But the farmers of dry beans and vegetables come to Mengzi only on Sunday.

There is a unique street in Mengzi where farmers sell their products directly to their customers. Their products are seeds and grains. It is so amazingly tantalising  and educational to people who appreciate these dry foods.

I do not think that our farmers in Malaysia ever thought of selling their own products in this unique street style . Some of the products are even sold from the pulled carts. These photos show how the farmers come from their farms to sell their good on a Sunday. Definitely they are paid directly and there is no chance for middlemen to pocket a profit. So prices remain very very reasonable and every one has a good bargain.



Different kinds of peanuts and beans are sold from sacks like these along the road side. Peanuts form the main ingredient of many popular dishes in Yunnan. A nice wild vegetable and toufoo can be  beefed up by the ground milky peanut milk and a nice  soup is presented to the guests as the centre dish. Perhaps this is the reason why in this agrarian society both men and women are particularly sturdy and living long lives.
These are precious black sesame seeds which is often made into an important health giving porridge.
Floral teas are offered to customers who may need cooling drinks.
Two women are sorting out giving each other companionship while waiting for their customers.

Free range (kampong chicken) eggs are usually sold in this way to show their identity. Factory chicken eggs are sold in egg trays.The kampong chickens in Yunnan are called Tu Chi or Soil chicken.

Another set of 10 free range duck eggs.
Here's a strategic corner where men ply their products - peanuts( still in their shells )and beans and garlic.

To Malaysians this is indeed a real tamu which means meeting place for farmers. At the end of the day these Yunnan farmers would cart their seasonal products home leaving the streets very clean and dry. And life goes on until the next Sunday.

10 comments:

Daniel Yiek said...

What about Yunan mushrooms? :)

Anonymous said...

the lakia kay eggs sold at Kuching weekend market is around 1 dollar(RM1).i loves them - very nice orange yolk and smell so good. how's the weather and temperature up the mountain there Sarawakiana ?
- Ah Ngao

Ensurai said...

Yes..Yunnan mushrooms are sold fresh in the wet market. The dried ones are lavishly packed for tourists to buy. And many are sold in the Medicine shops. I think there is quality control for mushrooms so the farmers do not sell them in the dried form in the streets. This is something I observed and assumed when I was there. I bought some nicely packed dried mushrooms. But there were also loose ones for sale in the shop.

Ensurai said...

Ah Ngao...you still use the term LK Kay? hahahaha
Yes the tu chi eggs are very nice and sweet. We can really tell the difference. I have half a mind to rear my own chickens too. But then they will attract snakes which frighten me.
The temperatures are nice..16 degrees most of the time. When it rains it is colder. At night the temperatures can go down to 12 even. In the mountains even colder. Have you heard of Eagle Mountain? It is famous for mountain climbing. In the future it will be very well developed.
Cheers.

The Observer said...

the duck eggs are nicely packed.

Ensurai said...

Yes...Only the farmers of Yunnan will do this. Unique.

Anonymous said...

How do u fly to Yunnan from Malaysia? Fly form KL to Kunming by MAS???

Ensurai said...

Anonymous..yes from Miri we took the 6.30 MAS flight arriving in KLIA at about 8.30. Than at 10.30 we flew to Kunming...arriving at about 1.05 p.m. Very smooth.

MAS is very efficient..but you can go by Air Asia too. Another route is to fly by Air Asia to Hanoi and then take the railway to Mengzi. It really depends on how adventurous you are.

God bless.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I commented about the packaging of the duck egg, but the comment disappeared. Never mind the eggs, bring back a few "boats" to give your friends as souvenirs.

Ensurai said...

Yes...Ann...they are lovely aren't they? Probably over here we try to be "modern" and never really think about being simple and rustic....cheers.

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