As the picture on the front suggests, it's melon seeds (kuay chee), pre-peeled.
Now the benefits of not having to crack open this Chinese New Year staple are obvious:
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1) No mess of dealing with the waste shells
2) No strained jaw muscles (If you haven't had this problem you're clearly not as obsessed about these as you should be)
3) Higher quality seeds (no rotten-surprise ones)
Clearly, in the key aspects, it's pretty much perfect.
But strangely, despite the vastly superior benefits on offer, I found myself veering back into the realm of the messy, PIY (Peel it yourself) Kuay-chee land.
Because (and I surprised myself here):
1) The shells are usually salted and slightly burnt, adding to the taste of the overall package (seed + shell)
2) There's an emotional sense of achievement in cracking the shell open perfectly (sorta like hitting a good golf shot)
3) I like the ones which are JUST starting to turn rotten (they're yummier! like durian that's just a little bit riper)
I guess you don't always appreciate what you've got until you've seen the alternatives ;)
2 comments:
Eating kuah-chee is a very sentimental thing for me - my (recently departed) grandma taught me how to open it with my teeth... but I've lost the skill over the years due to lack of practice.
i think i chipped my front teeth once. But that didnt stop me! And yes, the 'more salty' exterior is the main draw! Sunflower seeds arent good substitutes :(
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