A viral video showcases a vendor in Hunan, a central province in China, skillfully stir-frying small river rocks with chili, garlic, purple perilla, and rosemary, ultimately offering them for sale at 16 yuan (US$2.3) per dish.
The vendor clarifies that these pebbles are not intended to be consumed but rather to be savored by sucking on them. Their purpose is to enhance the flavors of the accompanying ingredients, creating a unique gastronomic experience.
From South China Morning Post:
The cheeky food stall owner joked: “Pass on the pebbles for three generations. You may be gone but the pebbles will still be there.”
Online observers were stunned by the weird delicacy which they hailed as “the hardest dish in the world”.
“It might be true that as long as the seasoning is good, even stir-fried shoe soles can be a delicacy,” one person quipped.
“Sounds like a perfect dish for dieting,” said another.
“Is this what they called ‘alchemy’?” a third said sarcastically.
According to a report in the Guangming Daily, the dish, known as suo diu, or “suck and throw away” in English, originated along the Yangtze River and was invented by boatmen short of food.
It was said the pebbles tasted like fish and went well with wine.
An online observer from Hubei province said some elderly people in the countryside continued the practice to the present day, “eating” stir-fried pebbles while drinking.
The dish was also a tradition in southwestern China’s Yunnan province after it became popular due to the hardships of the Sino-Japanese war from 1937-1945.
What an intriguing innovation!
Although undeniably peculiar, there is an undeniable fascination surrounding the concept of this pebble dish.
Speaking for myself, I am genuinely curious and would be intrigued to experience it firsthand.
How about you guys? Would you like to try this dish? Sound off in the comments!
