“Cannon” Popcorn

So you think popcorn is popcorn. How can there be anything special about popcorn? Well, in the northeast there is a traditional method of making popcorn on the street that is perhaps unlike any other method in the rest of the world. You can usually find this special sight (and sound) in a typical night market. The popcorn maker (often a farmer from the surrounding countryside) utilizes an open fire with a special cast-iron pressure cooker in the shape of a cannon. The popcorn kernels are placed inside the belly of the pressure cooker, it's sealed, and then placed over the open fire. The farmer then turns a handle to keep the pressure cooker rotating over the heat and to keep the kernels mixing inside the cooker. After a short time, the farmer gives a loud warning shout to all those nearby and then “KABOOM.” The farmer releases the lid of the pressure cooker and all of the individual popcorn kernels “POP” simultaneously creating an explosion and sound comparable to a hand grenade! All of the kernels of popcorn are blown out of the pressure cooker into a large long burlap sack. The farmer then retrieves the popcorn from the sack and sells it to his customers. An average size bag of this tasty popcorn should cost around 0.5 RMB. A large bag may run as high as 1 RMB.

Publishes at : 07-08-22 00:28

Url : http://www.asiavtour.com/China_Liaoning_Food_a163_s16_c6822.html