In the misty mountains of Guizhou Province, the Buyi ethnic group is turning sugar and glutinous rice into golden-brown mihua rice puffs this week – a crunchy Lunar New Year treat carrying centuries of cultural pride. Families in Wangmo County have spent February preparing these airy snacks, symbolizing sweetness and prosperity for 2026’s celebrations starting February 17.
🧑🍳 Why it matters: This hand-stretched delicacy – requiring precise heat control and rhythmic pulling – nearly vanished during the 2010s. Now, younger generations are reviving it through TikTok tutorials and livestreamed workshops. "My grandma taught me to read the caramel’s color like a weather forecast," says local artisan Luo Xia, 28, while demonstrating the technique.
🌐 Global flavor: Overseas investors from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia are funding modern packaging designs, helping these traditional snacks reach international markets via e-commerce. Meanwhile, food bloggers are dubbing mihua "China’s answer to caramel popcorn" – with a cultural twist!
📸 Pro tip for travelers: Visitors to Qianxinan this week can join DIY mihua classes while exploring the Buyi people’s stilted wooden villages. Just don’t forget to snap slow-mo videos of that sugar-stretching action!
