Sunflower seeds to Chinese are like popcorn to Americans, but even more so. Throughout the spring, summer and fall you'll see people sitting outside along the streets biting on the black striped shells. A party is not complete without them, even wedding celebrations. As an ingrained part of Chinese culture, they are sold in abundance by the street vendors, even in the dead of winter, as here......
The skillful speed the Chinese have in cracking those shells with their teeth, consuming the seeds, one after another is amazing to this unskilled Westerner. I finally realized that a person's front teeth will reveal their participation in this pastime. Take a look at these photos. Do you see the groove in the front teeth, formed from countless times of cracking open the shells for the prize inside?
My thanks to this dear lady for serving as my illustration. I have dubbed her "the sunflower lady" (even though she sells fruits)!