Chapter 245 Oreo and Pu'er Tea
The second product, specially designed for hardcore tea lovers who don't like sweet flavors, is Pu'er mochi hot milk.
Su Yingxue chose a three-year-aged ripe Pu'er tea cake kept by tea farmers at the foot of Tuoshan Mountain. The tea cake was dark and firm, and the tea was mild with a natural jujube aroma and glutinous texture, without any astringency of raw Pu'er.
Take two or three tea cakes and quickly wash them with warm water to remove dust. Pour boiling spring water over them and let them sit for three minutes to filter out the tea leaves. The tea aroma is mellow and long-lasting. Simmer pure milk over low heat until it steams. Mix the tea and milk in a 1:3 ratio and add only a pinch of rock sugar to enhance the flavor. Just the right amount will bring out the original aroma of the tea and milk.
First, place a few plump mochi balls in the cup, then slowly pour in the prepared hot milk, allowing the mochi to absorb the aroma of tea and milk in the warmth. The finished product is light amber in color, with a clear tea soup. The steam carries the blended aromas and spreads out. The first taste is the mellow sweetness of ripe Pu'er tea, with the aroma of dates lingering on the tip of the tongue.
Chew on the mochi, which is soft, chewy, and flavorful. The tea's warmth balances the creaminess of the milk, and the milk's richness complements the tea's lingering aftertaste. It's soothing to the throat and refreshing without burdening the stomach, making it an excellent choice for replenishing energy while hiking.
The two new products were placed in a prominent position in the store early the next morning, labeled "less sugar, rich, and energy booster".
At first, most of the male challengers were observing, but Zhao Ge, an old donkey with dark and rough skin who had led teams to the summit for many years, was jokingly ordered a cup of Oreo mochi thick milk by his companions.
He took it with his large hand, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. His tense brows instantly relaxed, and his rough voice rang out: "This stuff is pretty good! Not too sweet or cloying, and it's filling!"
As soon as these words were spoken, onlookers rushed forward to place orders. A young man named Kai, wearing quick-drying clothes and carrying a heavy backpack, was the first to order Oreo Mochi Thick Milk. His eyes lit up when he bit into the chewy and stretchy mochi, and he patted his stomach, exclaiming, "That's great!" He said it was much better than the energy bars he carried with him.
Old Chen, a loner and a man of few words, ordered a cup of Pu'er mochi hot milk with his trekking stick between his fingers. After taking a small sip, his cold and hard profile softened. He leaned against the railing and slowly savored the drink. After a while, he gave Su Yingxue a slight nod, which was the highest form of approval.
The outdoor groups, each taking what they liked, quickly snapped up both new products amidst laughter and chatter.
In less than a morning, most of the ingredients were sold out, and the men who were originally just waiting for their teammates started lining up on their own.
After drinking the hot beverage, I felt incredibly energized and exclaimed that with this drink as a base, I could confidently enjoy the sea of clouds and the strange rocks.
Looking at the bustling scene in front of the shop, Su Yingxue and Xu Qingqing exchanged a smile—the girls were sipping the strawberry mochi milk and taking photos, while the men were either drinking heartily or savoring it slowly. Even the elders in the group were charmed by the hot Pu'er milk. Yunhai Xiaoyao Shop had finally become a halfway up the mountain supply station that no challenger wanted to miss.
Since then, Xiaoyaopu has become incredibly popular, a must-try for the Wushan Ladder Challenge. You can't complete your visit without trying the drinks here.
Every day at the crack of dawn, long queues form at the foot of the ladder, with many arriving two hours early just to grab a hot drink to warm themselves up. On the mountainside platform, the line to buy drinks winds along the trail, the clinking of cups and the laughter of tourists mingling with the sweetness of strawberry milk and the rich flavor of two new drinks, creating a unique and lively atmosphere.
Wu Yong, strong and robust, stayed at the head of the group to maintain order, and would lend a hand to any hikers carrying heavy loads.
The mild-mannered Lao Wang helps hand out cups and bag them. He remembers the preferences of regular customers perfectly. He can tell you who wants more Oreo crumbs and who wants hot Pu'er milk with less sugar without hesitation. The once chaotic platform is now lively but orderly.
Male challengers became loyal fans of both new products, with the vast majority choosing Oreo Mochi Thick Cream.
When making this drink, Su Yingxue specifically chose low-sugar Oreos, only crushing the caramelized crusts, laying a thick layer of crushed Oreos at the bottom of the cup, filling it with bouncy mochi, pouring hot milk over it, covering it with another layer of crushed Oreos, and sprinkling black sesame seeds for added aroma.
The dark brown drinks were steaming hot, with a fragrant aroma of caramel and milk. Brother Zhao always ordered two cups every time he came. He would drink one on the spot and pack the other into a thermos bag. He said that climbing to the summit was tiring and the wind was strong at the top, so a hot drink was the best remedy.
He drank heartily, gulping down the crisp, fragrant, chewy, and mellow flavors that exploded in his mouth, instantly filling him with a sense of fullness and sweeping away the weakness in his legs from climbing the ladder.
Pu'er mochi hot milk has become a favorite among tea lovers and middle-aged enthusiasts.
Old Chen became a regular customer, always ordering only this one type of tea. He was picky about tea, but he especially loved the ripe Pu'er tea brewed by Su Yingxue, praising its pure jujube aroma and the perfect ratio of tea to milk, which enhanced the flavor rather than overpowering it.
He drank very carefully, first sipping the tea and milk for a sweet aftertaste, then chewing the mochi to savor the blended aroma. After finishing, he would always scoop up every last bit of mochi from the bottom of the cup, and before leaving, he would simply say, "The tea tasted just right today," which was the ultimate compliment.
Several middle-aged tea enthusiasts came together, chatting as they drank. They said that this cup of hot milk was more to their liking than the milk tea in the city's tea restaurants, as it was gentle and soothing to the stomach, and not too hot or greasy to drink while hiking.
The three drinks perfectly cover all flavors.
The girl loves the sweet and refreshing taste of strawberry milk.
Brother Zhao, a hardcore veteran, is fond of the filling power of Oreo's thick cream.
Old Chen, a reserved tea lover, recognizes the lingering sweetness of Pu'er hot milk.
Tourists with children enjoyed their own unique experiences: the kids drank low-sugar strawberry milk while the adults drank hot Pu'er milk.
Su Yingxue and Xu Qingqing didn't even touch the ground from the moment they opened the door. Su Yingxue was overseeing the stove, controlling the proportions and temperature, while Xu Qingqing was focused on kneading mochi and crushing biscuits. The mochi pieces she kneaded with her fingertips were perfectly round, and the biscuit crumbs were just the right size. Both of them had sweat on their foreheads and their fingertips were red from being burned by the cups, but they didn't bother to rest.
While maintaining order, Wu Yong moved ingredients and handed out insulated boxes, and gave priority to packing up tourists who were rushing to the top.
Old Wang remembers every regular customer's preferences perfectly. He doubles the Oreo crumbs for Brother Zhao and makes sure Old Chen's hot Pu'er milk is sugar-free, down to the last detail.
The two were busy running around, but their faces were full of smiles. The once deserted Wushan Ladder was now bustling with people because of this little wooden house, and the guesthouses and restaurants at the foot of the mountain were also thriving. The villagers would smile and say that business was good.
The online buzz remains high, with outdoor blogger Lei Hai's check-in video receiving over ten million likes. Bloggers from all walks of life followed suit, and the scene of the ladder to the sky, the sea of clouds, and hot drinks attracted netizens to flock to it.
Some people travel from other provinces just to drink a cup of Su Yingxue's handmade Oreo thick milk;
The outdoor club led by Brother Zhao even designated this place as a fixed route, and each time they would pack a dozen or so cups to share with the team members. Everyone praised this as an extra perk of mountain climbing.
At the peak of the midday rush, Brother Zhao arrived with a group of challengers in professional gear. A hearty smile graced his dark face, and his voice boomed, drowning out the surrounding noise: "Boss, eight cups of Oreo mochi thick milk, four cups of Pu'er hot milk! Extra Oreo crumbs, and Old Chen's cup is sugar-free!"
Su Yingxue quickly packed the food, and Xu Qingqing handed her a full bowl of mochi. The two worked together seamlessly and finished packing it in a moment.
When Brother Zhao was distributing the cups, A-Kai rushed down a mouthful first, grimacing and shouting that it was delicious.
Old Chen took the hot Pu'er milk, sipped it slowly, his face full of contentment as he gently stroked the warm cup. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the wooden house, illuminating the steaming cup and the smiling faces of everyone.
The rich aroma wafted over the platform and towards the ladder, accompanied by Brother Zhao's shouts, the team members' laughter, and Akai's exclamations.
These have become the most vibrant scenery of Wushan, and also the warm fragrance and taste that every mountaineer will never forget.
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