Nai lao facts for kids
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Beijing yogurt for sale at Wangfujing
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| Type | Yogurt |
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| Place of origin | China |
| Region or state | Beijing |
| Main ingredients | Milk, sugar, nuts, raisins, rice wine |
| Nai lao | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 奶酪 | ||||||||||
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Beijing yogurt, also called Nailao, is a yummy traditional drink from China. It's a type of fermented milk that many people enjoy all over the country. The Chinese name for it, suannai, actually means "sour milk".
How Beijing Yogurt is Made
Making Beijing yogurt, or suānnǎi, is a special process. First, milk is heated up and mixed with sugar. Then, two kinds of nuts are added, along with raisins and rice wine. This rice wine is made from a special type of rice called glutinous rice. All these ingredients are stirred together very well.
A unique tool called a lào tǒng (which means "yogurt barrel") is used. This barrel has a special warm area in its middle. This warm area provides the heat needed to cook the yogurt. The milk, rice wine, and honey or sugar mix is quickly poured into about fifty small bowls. These bowls are then carefully stacked inside the lào tǒng. They are heated for about 30 minutes, then allowed to cool down.
How to Enjoy Beijing Yogurt
Traditionally, when you bought suānnǎi, it came in a reusable ceramic container. You would enjoy your yogurt and then return the container to the seller.
However, things have changed a bit! Nowadays, many sellers give you suānnǎi in handy disposable plastic cups. This makes it easier to take your yogurt with you on the go.
In 2011, a special factory opened in the United States. This factory focuses on making Beijing-style yogurt, bringing this traditional Chinese treat to more people around the world.
