Learning from SCMP : 1st of the Year of the Pig
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2183666/jap-jap-bikini-taiwans-craft-beer-bar-could-have-been-hooters
A Hongkonger opened a hooters-style bar – where serves fried food and beer by beautiful women in bikinis. The founder use her savings from a brief stint as an independent financial advisor.
(stint = fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or activity)
The reporter feels that is a harebrained idea and she admits that attract group of middle-aged lechers. After that, she changed her mind to think of something else other than bikinis to make this place stand out. Now, you cannot find bikini-clad derriere, in contrast, it has become a family-friendly Taiwanese craft beer specialist.
It is no doubt that more and more young entrepreneurs or retirees looking for an affordable home with a high quality of life. Also, some like there for apolitical reasons and others might don’t like the idea of working a nine-to-five job. What’s more is that it’s culturally and linguistically familiar, isn’t it?
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/2183708/black-sugar-how-come-you-taste-so-good-chinese-medicine
Let’s make game – what food has a rich, inky hue and dark caramel flavour?
It is sweet crystalline (clear) substance which is captivating drink consumers and even has become a darling of the Instagram generation –racking up thousands of likes and followers.
(captivate (captivating) [v.] – to hold the attention of someone by being extremely interesting, exciting, pleasant, orattractive)
Indeed, it’s been around for aeons [informal] – a period of time that is so long that it cannot be measured
Guess what, you are vary likely to compel people to queue for hours outside the places that serve it..
Interestingly, more than just a distinctive sweetener, it is also used by traditional Chinese medical practitioners (doctors)
Okay, it’s black sugar.
Black sugar bubble tea craze has spread out from Taiwan to Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Various trademarks are emerging from their found place and those parent brand have opened outpost in distinctive regions of the Asia.
(outpost (n.) – a place, especially a small group of buildings or a town, that represents the authority or business interests of a government or company that is far away)
Unlike its heavily processed white counterpart, black sugar is unrefined (= unprocessed) and so retaining more of its nutrients and a slightly savoury flavour. Recently, black sugar has become the stand-out ingredient in a plethora of drinks and desserts that have gone viral on social media.
(plethora (of) = profusion (of) – a very large amount of something, especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with)
(go viral – to become very popular very quickly)
(viral video clip – is a video that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites such as YouTube as well as social media and email)
Black sugar is made from the sap of sugar cane.
(sap = liquid from the plant [≈ juice])
Black sugar is rich in vitamins and nutrients, it can help relieve the symptoms of some diseases. However, it will not have a beneficial effect on everyone.