caau2 mai5 beng2炒米餅炒米饼

Jyutpingcaau2 mai5 beng2

Yalecháau máih béng

名詞

Definition

Fried rice biscuit; a very hard, traditional Cantonese snack made from rice flour, sugar, peanuts, sesame, and coriander.

colloquialfoodfestival

How it's used

Associated primarily with traditional festivals and Lunar New Year, these snacks are famous for their extreme hardness, often serving as a playful test of one's teeth. They are distinct from 杏仁餅 because they rely on rice flour and specific aromatics like coriander, giving them a unique, rustic flavor profile. The surface is frequently embossed with auspicious characters, making them a common sight on family snack trays during celebrations.

Measure word

faai3塊fai

Examples

ni1呢di1啲caau2炒mai5米beng2餅ngaang6硬dou3到ngaau5咬m4唔jap6入aa4呀。

These fried rice biscuits are so hard I can't bite into them.

gwo3過nin4年uk1屋kei2企jau5有mou5冇maai5買caau2炒mai5米beng2餅lai4嚟sik6食？

Did you buy any fried rice biscuits to eat for the Lunar New Year?

Common phrases

ngaang6硬gwo3過sek6石tau4頭

harder than a rock

gwo3過nin4年sik6食caau2炒mai5米beng2餅

eating fried rice biscuits during Lunar New Year

Common mistake

Do not confuse these with 杏仁餅, which are much more crumbly and powdery in texture; attempting to eat a 炒米餅 with the same force as a regular cookie might result in a chipped tooth.