TV talk show footage in which a Taiwan man said most people on the Chinese mainland residents can't afford a boiled tea egg, gained popularity among netizens recently.

In the program, which was broadcast in early November, a guest consultant said that most people on the Chinese mainland are so poor that they can't buy a "tea egg", a popular snack featuring eggs simmered in tea leaves, spices and soy sauce.

The eggs typically sell for 1 or 2 yuan (16 to 32 cents) each.

The program was widely circulated among mainland netizens this week, and the Taiwan man was mocked for his arrogance and prejudice toward the mainland.

Some male netizens joked that they will take a tea egg instead of a diamond ring to propose marriage to their girlfriends.