Minqu, piao minqu, or xiao hetao, is a traditional pastry of Shanxi province. It started to prevail in Yangquan in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). 

The pastry is made of mung beans mixed with a small amount of white flour and pressed by a special tool. It can float on the soup seasoned with various condiments after boiling.

It is fresh, fragrant, as slender as fine dried noodles, and has rich nutrients and special flavor and is good to health. Fu Shan, a medical scientist in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties spoke highly of the food in his article.

As a famous snack of Yangquan, piao minqu is quite popular among locals and considered as a must-taste delicacy for inbound visitors.

Since it is made of mung beans, an ingredient in making soup that is good for relieving summer heat.