What Does Your Jianbing Say About You?

For the new-to-Beijing, this ubiquitous street food is a must-try; for the seasoned lao wai and the Chinese, it is the undisputed king of all streetfoods. But not all jianbing are created equal. After some time, you learn to tweak the default formula to create your personalized version. So what does your jianbing say about you?

Cilantro
No other herb polarizes people so heatedly. Its advocates are generally the accepting, happy-go-lucky type that are unperturbed by whatever hand life serves them. Everyone loves being friends with the cheery cilantro-lover.

Hate cilantro? You're not alone. But then it wouldn't be wrong to say that sometimes you simply ride the hate-bandwagon to avoid disputes with your co-workers or circle of friends.

Chili paste
Do you say "yao" to chili paste, or even request an extra generous slathering? You seem to love the heat and probably attack life with unrelenting passion, unafraid of the taste of failure. In fact, it rather excites you!

Or perhaps you walk on the safe side of life, politely declining the heat, preferring instead to taste the calmer elements in both your jianbing and your life.

The fried dough sheet
Ah! The texture! The crunch! Without it, the jianbing ceases to be more than a spicy crepe. You're someone that knows how to appreciate the textural difference it contributes, much akin to your appreciation of variety in your relationships; you know how to balance work with moments of crunchy, exciting fun.

On the other hand, there exists the strong-willed that can forgo the immediate pleasure of an oily crunch for the healthier version of the jianbing. You are the diligent student, the persevering gym-goer or the hard-working employee that everyone respects.

Egg
Though usually made with one egg, you can always opt for an extra one. The extra protein and buttery yolk fuel your day for longer, making the extra egg an excellent choice. You believe in achieving maximum pleasure from one's life choices, and are willing to shell out an extra kuai or two to achieve this.

Next time you grab a jianbing with a friend, watch what they order; it just may reveal more than you think.

Photo: the Beijinger