【Haichuan Teahouse】Chili peppers can actually serve as an indicator of weather conditions
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A joke told by an economics professor: Once, a fund manager went to a vegetable market in Dongguan to ask about the price of chili peppers. What is he going to do? He wants to investigate the changes in China’s job market. Well, that’s strange – how is employment related to chili peppers? You see, people in Guangdong prefer mild flavors and don’t like spicy food. Most of those who come to Dongguan to work are workers from neighboring provinces, such as Hunan, Jiangxi, and Sichuan; they like eating chili peppers. If the price of chili peppers in Dongguan’s markets rises, it means there are many migrant workers, the local economy is strong, and there are plenty of job opportunities. What if the price of chili peppers drops? Then one has to be careful. Perhaps it’s because the local economy is struggling; migrant workers can’t find jobs, so they have all returned to their hometowns.
Chili is the largest spice crop in the world. Among the vegetable crops in our country, its planting area is second only to that of Chinese cabbage. In 2017, its total economic value across the country exceeded 70 billion yuan, making it the top-ranked vegetable crop. Think about it: with such a large consumer base, how huge must the market behind it be? Is the food not fresh enough? Is the method too complicated? It’s okay; with chili, none of this is a problem. This creates business opportunities for standardized, efficient factory-style restaurant production; the entry barrier is low and it’s easy to get started. By mastering the right proportions of chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and Doubanjiang sauce, one can grasp the secret to achieving a spicy flavor. Coupled with cold-chain transportation and standardized seasoning formulas in central kitchens, the end result is the same anyway – so what difference does it make who is in charge of mixing the ingredients?
So, what is relied on to observe the Yangtze River Delta? ? ?