Swelled sugar rice

A worker makes the swelled sugar rice by hand in Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Jan 31. [Photo/gxnews.com.cn]

Mihuatang, or swelled sugar rice, is a traditional handmade delicacy made by locals of the Du'an Yao autonomous region in Hechi. The snack is typically enjoyed starting on the first day of the la yue (12th lunar month) until the end of the Spring Festival.

Swelled sugar rice is primarily made of steamed sticky rice mixed with caramel, which is then baked before being fried with peanuts or sesame.