Clarissa Wei
How One of the World's Hottest Cities Became a Hub for Grape Growing
Surrounded by mostly barren desert, the Chinese city of Turpan looks like a Mad Max wasteland, where temperatures regularly climb above 110 degrees.
Why China's Rice Farmers Are Less Confrontational Than Wheat Farmers
Thomas Talhelm, an assistant professor of behavioral science, is the author of the “rice theory,” which states that people who grow up in rice-farming areas are less individualistic than people from wheat-producing places.
The Secret to These Noodles Is an Obscure Chinese Desert Plant
I had thought that the core ingredients of noodles were basically the same around the world. But in the north of China, noodle-makers use local plants to give their noodles better bite and elasticity.
Mød kvinderne der vil gøre kondomer nuttede
I Taiwan er det pinligt at købe og bruge prævention. En gruppe studerende forsøger at ændre det ved at designe yndige indpakninger, der ligner sushi, frugt eller cupcakes.
Inside the Goji Berry Capital of China
Zhongning is the epicenter of goji production in China, raking in thousands of pounds of the berries worth a total of $232 million annually.
In China, There’s a Hipster Yak Coffee Joint Run by Tibetan Nomads
Outfitted with aged wood panels and dangling Edison-style bulbs, Charu looks like the kind of coffee shop I avoid in the States—but in Chengdu, it's trying to offer new opportunities for Tibetans.
Why More Tibetan Nomads Are Going Vegetarian
Over the last 15 years, a wave of Tibetans has fully embraced vegetarianism, as nomads and previously isolated towns have gotten access to other foods besides yak products.
This Town Produces the Best Peppercorns in China
On average, half a kilogram of Sichuan peppercorns from Hanyuan sells for about $15—far more expensive than peppercorns from elsewhere in China.
Foraging for Fish Mint in Rural Sichuan Is Smelly Business
I traveled to the mountains of Sichuan to forage for fish mint, a culinary delicacy and prized ingredient in Chinese medicine whose name is derived from the fishy aroma the leaves emit.
This Taiwanese Company Makes Clothes Out of Coffee Grounds
Taiwanese company Singtex has perfected a process for turning coffee waste and plastic bottles into fabric. One T-shirt can be made with three cups of coffee grounds and five recycled plastic bottles.
The Women Trying to Make Condoms Cute
In Taiwan, contraceptives are considered embarrassing to buy and use. A group of Taiwanese students is trying to change that, with adorable condoms packaged like sushi, fruit, and cupcakes.
The Dragon Boat Festival Is an Excuse to Feast on Glutinous Rice Dumplings
Zongzi is a tetrahedral glutinous rice dumpling that's wrapped in bamboo leaves and stuffed with pork, salted duck egg yolk, dried shiitakes, and more.