Bai Ethnic Group’s Papaya Water in Dali

Bai Ethnic Group’s Papaya Water in Dali

　　Papaya water in Dali is suitable for all ages, cool and refreshing, quenching both thirst and weariness. The silky texture of papaya water in your mouth can instantly relieve fatigue. The “papaya” here isn’t the teardrop-shaped fruit that grows on southern papaya trees, but rather the fruit of another plant. Its seeds are extracted, crushed, and then made into a crystal-clear, gelatinous substance. Sprinkle in tiny dots of black sesame, and after cooling, it becomes jelly-like, yet soft and almost formless. Scoop out a small piece, crush it, and mix it with iced water, brown sugar syrup, and chilled “rice shrimp” (a rice-based product that looks like little shrimp), and you’ve got papaya water. Scooped into a glass or bowl, it’s incredibly fresh and tempting.