Beijing Breakfast’s “Dynamic Duo”: Fermented Mung Bean Juice & Crispy Rings (豆汁焦圈)

1. A Bold Breakfast Adventure

Dear travelers, if you think breakfast is just coffee and toast, think again.
In Beijing, mornings bring a unique culinary challenge: Fermented Mung Bean Juice with Crispy Rings.
This isn’t a gentle start—it’s Beijing breakfast at its boldest.

2. History & Cultural Significance

Fermented mung bean juice dates back to the Liao and Song dynasties.
It originated as a way to use leftover mung bean residue wisely.
For locals, its gray-green hue represents authentic old Beijing flavor.
It symbolizes the city’s grounded, everyday culture—simple yet profound.

3. Ingredients & Taste

The star, mung bean juice, is fermented, gray-green, and mildly sour.
Its partner, crispy rings, are golden fried dough, crunchy like mini bracelets.
Eating them is a taste rollercoaster: sour juice meets crisp dough.
Together, they form a balanced, unique symphony in your mouth.

4. How It’s Made

Mung bean residue ferments, then cooks with careful stirring.
Crispy rings are shaped and fried to golden perfection.
The process is almost like a live culinary performance—art in motion.

5. How to Eat Like a Local

Serve hot mung bean juice with crispy rings and a small portion of spicy pickles.
Sip the juice, bite the ring, and nibble the pickles—repeat for the full experience.
The sour, crispy, and spicy flavors create a perfect morning harmony.

6. Where to Try It

For the most authentic experience, visit Beijing’s old snack shops.
Recommended: Lao Ci Qi Kou Mung Bean Juice (Tiantan branch) or Yin San Mung Bean Juice (Dongxiaoshi branch).
A full set costs about 5–10 RMB—a true budget-friendly Beijing breakfast.
Order by saying: “One bowl of mung bean juice, a set of crispy rings with pickles.”

7. Tips for First-Timers

In English, it’s called Beijing Fermented Mung Bean Juice and Crispy Deep-Fried Ring.
The flavor is an acquired taste—similar to blue cheese or pickled herring.
Once you love it, you can’t stop. Perfect for adventurous food explorers.

8. Tasting Ritual

Local shops serve juice, rings, and pickles separately.
Sip the juice, crunch the ring, then add pickles for a salty-spicy twist.
Repeat the cycle—you’ll discover a complex, addictive flavor combination.

Be brave, food explorers! Add this to your must-try Beijing breakfast list.
It’s more than breakfast—it’s a cultural dive into Beijing’s soul.