Seven-Star Purple Crab

Purple crabs are a Tianjin specialty. To make this dish, you need seven live female crabs and seven egg whites. You steam the crabs, while mixing the egg whites with salt, MSG and clear soup, then place the crabs in the mixture.

Shang Gangzi Mian Cha

"Shang gangzi mian cha," or seasoned flour mush is a popular breakfast food in Tianjin. With a light yellow color, it tastes mild and refreshing and is quite nutritious. The main ingredients are proso millet flour and glutinous millet flour. When a customer orders the dish, hot water is poured into the bowl containing the flour to create a paste-like mush. It is served with white and/or brown sugar and sweet osmanthus sauce.