Traditional candies: Ding ding tong and Mat nga tong

Ding ding tong..an ancient candy, so old that even my parents ate them when they were younger..even grandma too..i even wondered if they existed during dynasty times..translated literally, ding ding tong actually means ding ding candy..><.. the words "ding ding" actually imitating the sound a hammer makes when it hits on a metal chisel.. It works two ways; the hammer and chisel combination is used to break apart the original shape of the ding ding candy into smaller, more consumable pieces and the 'ding ding' noise attracts people to come buy them. Well, you'll be surprised that the ding ding tradition still exists up until today, although peddlers selling them are rare..As for me, the distinct ding ding noise never fails to attract me to buy them. Its not that i like this candy actually, but i buy them for my mom which it's always a pleasure to see her delighted. She goes,"Where did you find these?".. Modern times have modified this candy from its original maltose taste into coconut, mint, eucalyptus, strawberry? etc etc. Oh! it just struck me that the english translation (although weird) for ding ding tong is actually "hardened maltose candy".

Next up is actually a close relative of the ding ding tong = the mat nga tong..which err..means wheat bud candy (this translation is even worse)? Candy made from wheat bud?something like that..I think this stuff is the raw material to make ding ding tong (correct me if im wrong)..that makes mat nga tong the father of ting ting tong..or something like that..its complicated..Anyway, unlike ding ding tong which is solid and as hard as rock, the wheat bud candy is actually soft and super sticky..WARNING:Never attempt to bite or chew this candy..youll end up never opening up your mouth for sometime..seriously..Well, here's how u eat mat nga tong the pro way:

1) open the bottle of your freshly bought mat nga tong
2) observe and appreciate how sticky the mat nga tong is..yerr~..
3) dig your stick into the thick sludgy paste of the mat nga tong..(this sentence sounds so wrong..especially 'your stick' part)
4) lai the thing up (lai means pull..lol)
5) Rotate your stick..wohoo ><..so that whatever that's left gets rolled up 6) Attempt to disconnect whatever that refuses to dislodge from your stick.."i have no idea what im trying to say..wahaha"
7) Suck gently...Mmm.. -.-""..Lick, dont bite

Youll get excited and addicted whenever you eat this candy..but at some point, youll get bored of it cos your mouth gets tired of sucking..lol..Aside from being a candy, i guess this stuff proves an interesting ingredient for dishes like chicken and peanut cookies too..as for that, i think ill not get there..