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One of the unusual experiences of coming to Asia is the one of drinking juice or some other liquid and finding texture to it--yes, texture. Juice will have bits of aloe or pear. It is added to the juice so it is different than orange juice with pulp!

I've asked some locals about this. One theory is that it is a snack and you want to have some substance to a snack. My other theory is that in Chinese cooking, anyway, there is an emphasis on all the senses--color, texture, flavor, smell, etc. Maybe this reflects this aesthetic sense?

The end result is that I chew my juice each morning. Then there is bubble tea--tea with tapioca balls, or there is the tea with red beans...