Grilled Ice, mixed with spices and chili powder, grilled over charcoal, and eaten as a snack, are currently a sensation in China.
Iced rock with chili powder grilling is a new street food trend in China, gaining rapid popularity through a 9-second video demonstrating its preparation at a street vendor in Nanxiong, Guangxi province.
In this process, the chef places Grilled Ice on an iron plate with charcoal underneath, sprinkles white salt, butter, chili powder, and mixes them before serving on a plate. This dish is believed to provide relief from the sweltering summer heat because the spice-coated Grilled Ice don’t completely melt.
The owner of the shop came up with the idea of grilling ice on a scorching day. Initially, it was just a playful experiment, but it received enthusiastic acclaim. Therefore, the shop owner continued grilling Grilled Ice. The dish is offered for free and has attracted many locals and tourists eager to try it.
Previously, China also made waves with “soudiu,” a spicy fried bullfrog dish. Originating from Hubei province in eastern China, the chef uses small bullfrog stones that are thoroughly cleaned and then fried in hot oil with garlic, finely chopped chili, and sauce. According to CNN, this is perhaps the world’s toughest dish, taken literally.
Soudiu has caused a stir on the internet, but it’s not a new dish. It dates back hundreds of years. In the past, boatmen sometimes got stuck in the middle of a river with no supplies while delivering goods. Therefore, they picked up stones from the riverbed and cooked them with various spices to create a meal. These boatmen humorously referred to the dish as “finding happiness in bitterness” (because it’s spicy).
