The Best Thing (Chinese Drama)

           The Best Thing Chinese drama is my favorite drama this year (2025). It is about the severely insomniac hotel manager Shen Shi Fan and the good-looking neighborhood Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor He Su Ye.

From the setting alone, the scenery, I became hooked with this drama. You should watch it if you are interested in Chinese Traditional medicine. The actor Zhang Ling He who plays the TCM doctor is right for the role. 

The female lead looks like a younger version of Shu Qi. This drama is lighthearted and no serious problematic plot. Real life is stressful and by watching this series it was a beautiful escape for me from the real world for awhile.

I really like the OST of this drama, I like the song of Silence Wang, You Are In the World I Like and Thoughts of Loving You by Yan Ren Zhong. 

I have two items, memorabilia from this drama photocards and the Chinese novel by Sheng Li, which is so cute because it has a hand written note and a beautiful quote that says, "The happiest thing in the world is that the person you love just happens to love you deeply too." 

Osmanthus Bean Cake

 I finally found the cake I’ve always admired in the Chinese dramas I watch—the soft, fragrant osmanthus mung bean cake. This is exactly the kind I’ve been longing to try, not like the powdery biscuit version I once posted about. What makes it even more special is that these cakes are made by 知味观 (Zhī Wèi Guān), one of Hangzhou’s most popular and historic food brands founded in 1913, celebrated for their authentic flavors and cultural presentation.

I also love the covers of the boxes—they tell the stories of beautiful West Lake scenes, and here are some interesting facts I discovered about them:

Left box: Osmanthus Mung Bean Cake (桂花绿豆糕 Guìhuā lǜ dòu gāo). The cover illustrates 花港观鱼 (Huā gǎng guān yú), “Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor,” one of West Lake’s Ten Scenes. This place is famous for its red carp gliding gracefully beneath pavilions, surrounded by flowers in bloom—a lively yet poetic reflection of the osmanthus flavor within.

Right box: Original Mung Bean Cake (原味绿豆糕 Yuánwèi lǜ dòu gāo). This box shows 曲院风荷 (Qūyuàn fēng hé),  “Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard.” In summertime, lotus blossoms fill the lake, swaying in the warm breeze. The pure, original flavor of this cake mirrors that same calm beauty.

Bottom of the Green Box (both cakes). Printed here are the phrases 晓食时令 (Xiǎo shí shí lìng)  “Seasonal Delicacies at Dawn” and 湖山十景 (Húshān shí jǐng), “Ten Scenic Views of Lake and Mountain,” tying these sweets to the cultural legacy of Hangzhou. The motto—知景 (Zhī jǐng) / 知味 (Zhī wèi) / 知西湖 (Zhī Xīhú), “Know the Scenery, Know the Taste, Know West Lake”—reminds us that enjoying these cakes is also savoring a piece of history and culture.

The numbers printed on the boxes 20250813 and 20250814 are the production dates. In China, it’s common to print the date of manufacture, while in the Philippines we are more familiar with seeing the expiration date on food packaging. ✍️

Osmanthus Pastry Biscuits

The Yunnan-style osmanthus bean pastry (桂花糕, Guìhuā gāo – Osmanthus Cake) is a traditional Chinese pastry made with sweet bean paste and fragrant osmanthus flowers, giving it a delicate floral aroma. The pastry is typically soft, slightly flaky, or chewy, and lightly sweetened to complement the filling, making it a smooth and aromatic treat often enjoyed with tea. 

This particular version that I bought is not from a major national brand like Huangshan, Zhiweiguan, or Daoxiangcun. Instead, the packaging and design suggest it comes from a smaller local or regional producer, likely in an area known for traditional snacks. The artwork on the packaging shows a traditional rural scene of people making cakes with a steamer, highlighting the brand’s “authentic handmade” style.

Each bag weighs 130g, a souvenir-sized pack, and the cakes are individually wrapped, which is common for regional specialty snacks intended for gifting or sharing. While this brand is not widely famous, the cake represents an authentic traditional snack, popular especially in southern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan) where osmanthus flowers have cultural significance. The texture is slightly crumbly, floral, and sweet, and the product likely originates from the Jiangnan region or another area with a strong osmanthus tradition. Its texture reminds me of our own Philippine pastry dessert which is called polvoron.

In short, this 桂花糕 is a regional specialty pastry that combines traditional flavors, handmade appeal, and cultural significance, offering a sweet, fragrant, and authentic taste of Chinese dessert culture.