Editor: Xiao Meng
Preface
There are many types of traditional Chinese pastries with rich flavors, and each place has its own unique flavor.
Of all the pastries, which ones are your favorites?
The following 6 places are the most famous for their traditional pastries, each with its own unique characteristics and rich taste, which will make people have an endless aftertaste.
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, you may wish to prepare some pastries from these places and taste them with your family to experience the delicious and unique flavors of traditional Chinese pastries.
Next, I will introduce you to the pastries of these places one by one, so that you can taste them while learning about their historical and cultural background.
Harbin Lao Dingfeng pastry
Harbin Lao Dingfeng Pastry is a time-honored brand in Harbin with a long history and unique flavor.
Lao Dingfeng pastry is known for its diverse varieties, unique taste and fine production, and is an important part of Harbin's traditional food culture.
Lao Dingfeng pastry making skills have been inherited for nearly 100 years, and after several generations of continuous efforts and innovation, a unique flavor has been formed.
Lao Dingfeng pastry adopts the traditional production process, selects high-quality raw materials, and pays attention to every detail in the production process to ensure the quality and taste of the pastry.
There are many types of Lao Ding Feng pastries, ranging from traditional childhood flavors, such as mooncakes, mung bean cakes, preserves, etc., to modern innovative flavors, such as chocolate cake, cheese biscuits, etc.
These pastries are unique in terms of production process and taste, and are deeply loved by consumers.
Lao Dingfeng pastries are also very particular about the appearance, and each pastry has its own unique shape and pattern.
These patterns and shapes are not only beautiful, but also symbolize good wishes such as good luck and happiness.
Guangzhou water chestnut cake
Guangzhou water chestnut cake is a traditional Cantonese pastry, with water chestnut flour, sugar, coconut milk and other main raw materials, with a unique flavor and taste
Guangzhou water chestnut cake originated in the Tang Dynasty, when it was called "sugar cake", and in the Southern Song Dynasty, sugar cake gradually developed into "sugar noodles" and "sugar crisp".
During the Ming Dynasty, the sugar crisp was further improved into "brown sugar water chestnut cake", and in the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou water chestnut cake has become one of the representatives of Cantonese pastries.
The production process of Guangzhou horseshoe cake is very particular.
First, you need to mix the horseshoe flour with water and stir it into a slurry.
Then, add sugar, coconut milk, etc. to the pot and boil, then pour in the horseshoe batter and stir well.
Next, pour the mixture into the mold and put it in the steamer to steam.
The taste of Guangzhou water chestnut cake is unique, with the sweetness of water chestnut and the fragrance of coconut milk, as well as the soft and glutinous taste and crystal clear appearance.
The color of this pastry is pale yellow or translucent, and the surface is smooth and delicate, which is very attractive.
Guangzhou water chestnut cake is not only a delicious food, but also carries a rich cultural connotation.
In the Guangzhou area, water chestnut cake is often used as a gift for festive occasions, such as marriage, childbirth, etc.
In addition, during the Chinese New Year, people will also make water chestnut cakes to symbolize good wishes such as "step by step" and "fortune".
With the development of the times, the production techniques and tastes of Guangzhou water chestnut cake are constantly changing and improving.
Nowadays, in addition to the traditional coconut flavor, there are also different flavors of water chestnut cake with fruits, nuts, etc., so that people can enjoy a more diverse taste and nutrition while tasting it.
Henan old-fashioned pastries
There are many types of old-fashioned pastries in Henan, and here are some of the common varieties:
Candied fruit: It is a sweet food made of fruits and vegetables as the main raw material, after candied or pickled. Common candied fruits include dates, orange peels, honey radish, etc.
Sesame chips: It is a pastry with sesame seeds as the main raw material, with a crispy and sweet taste. Common hemp chips include pure sesame chips, sesame and peanut mixed chips, etc.
Peanut cake: It is a kind of cake made of peanut flour, sugar and glutinous rice flour as the main raw materials, and the taste is crispy and delicious.
Mung bean cake: It is a cake made with mung bean flour, sugar and oil as the main ingredients, with a delicate and refreshing taste.
Red bean cake: It is a kind of cake made with red beans, glutinous rice flour and sugar as the main ingredients, and the taste is sweet and delicious.
Hibiscus cake: It is a cake made with glutinous rice flour, sugar and jam as the main ingredients, and the taste is crispy and sweet.
The invention time of Henan's old-fashioned pastries can be traced back to ancient times, and the specific time is impossible to verify.
However, the wide spread and popularity of these pastries in the Henan region have a close connection with the local history, culture and traditional Xi.
In ancient times, Henan was one of China's cultural, political, and economic centers, and was also a famous agricultural production area.
Therefore, people in the Henan region began to make pastries very early to meet people's dietary needs and special requirements for occasions such as festivals and sacrifices.
With the passage of time, the production skills of Henan's old-fashioned pastries have been continuously developed and improved, and a series of pastries with local characteristics have gradually been formed.
In ancient times, these pastries were only enjoyed by wealthy families, but now they have become popular delicacies.
There are many interesting stories and legends in the process of making and becoming popular of Henan's old-fashioned pastries.
One of the most famous is the legend about "peanut cake".
Legend has it that the art of making peanut cake was invented by a doctor named Zhang Zhongjing, who made it easier for people to digest and absorb the nutrients in peanuts, and mixed peanut kernels, glutinous rice flour and sugar to make a crispy and nutritious food, which is what we see today.
There are also legends related to important events and cultural backgrounds in the history of Henan old-fashioned pastries.
For example, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, many pastry shops in the Henan region were famous trading houses of the time, and they brought Henan's old-fashioned pastries to all parts of the country through trade, making these pastries an important part of Chinese food culture.
Tianjin "Eight Pieces"
Tianjin's "eight pieces" refers to eight traditional pastries, including Fuzi Cake, Luzi Cake, Shouzi Cake, Xizi Cake, Ruyi, Jujube Flower, Cornucopia, and Shrimp Cake.
These pastries are made with eight kinds of fillings, including hawthorn, rose, green plum, sugar, bean paste, date paste, salt and pepper, and raisins.
Tianjin "Eight Pieces" is a traditional specialty pastry in Tianjin with a long history.
The earliest can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, when there were only eight kinds of pastries, and after a long period of development and evolution, the current "eight pieces" were formed.
The reason why it is called "eight pieces" is because each set includes eight large pieces, eight small pieces and eight small pieces, collectively referred to as "eight pieces".
The production process of Tianjin's "eight pieces" is very particular and needs to go through many processes.
First of all, you need to choose high-quality raw materials, such as flour, sugar, vegetable oil, etc.
Secondly, it is necessary to carry out processes such as dough mixing, leather making, and filling.
During the production process, the temperature and time need to be strictly controlled to ensure the taste and quality of the pastry. Finally, it needs to be baked, cooled and other processes to make a crispy and delicious Tianjin "eight pieces".
Tianjin's "Eight Pieces" is characterized by its golden color, crispy and delicious, sweet but not greasy, and is an important part of Tianjin's unique traditional food culture.
At the same time, because of its exquisite production process and unique taste, it is deeply loved by consumers.
With the development of the times, the production skills of Tianjin's "eight pieces" have been continuously inherited and developed.
Traditional production techniques have been preserved and improved, while new flavors and varieties have been introduced to meet the needs of different consumers.
Tianjin "Eight Pieces" is often used as a gift, and in traditional Chinese culture, gift-giving is one of the important ways to express blessings and hearts.
As a traditional pastry with auspicious meaning and exquisite style, Tianjin "Eight Pieces" has naturally become the first choice for gifts.
People often give the "eight pieces" as gifts to relatives and friends, meaning to wish them happiness, health and good luck.
Yunnan flower cake
Yunnan Flower Cake is a classic pastry with strong Yunnan characteristics, which enjoys a good reputation at home and abroad for its unique flavor and exquisite appearance.
This kind of pastry is made of edible roses unique to Yunnan, which are carefully baked to exude a rich rose fragrance and make people have an endless aftertaste.
The taste of Yunnan flower cake is very crispy and delicious, rich in layers, and the skin is crispy, and you can feel its delicate layering when you bite lightly.
The filling is full and juicy, sweet but not greasy, and the fresh aroma of roses is infused with it, making the whole taste even more unique.
You can taste the fragrance and sweetness of fresh petals in every bite, as if you are in the beautiful garden of Yunnan.
The history of Yunnan Flower Cake can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty more than 300 years ago, created by a cake maker.
At that time, the flower cake was loved by Emperor Qianlong because of its unique taste and bright color, and since then it has become a royal point in the palace and has been widely spread.
With the passage of time, the production skills of flower cakes have been continuously developed and improved, and gradually formed pastries with local characteristics.
In Yunnan, the consumption of roses has a long history, as early as the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Yunnan's climate and soil conditions are particularly suitable for the growth of roses, so the locals began to experiment with roses as a food ingredient.
Later, people gradually mastered the planting and processing technology of roses, making Yunnan's edible roses a well-known specialty at home and abroad.
The production process of Yunnan flower cake is very particular, and it is necessary to collect fresh rose petals, which are selected, cleaned, dried and other processes for later use.
Next, it is necessary to mix the dough, make the skin, and wrap the filling to make a beautiful pastry crust.
Finally, the filling is wrapped in the skin, and after baking, cooling and other processes, it can make a crispy, delicious, golden Yunnan flower cake.
Yunnan flower cake is not only delicious, but also rich in cultural connotation, in Yunnan, flower cake is regarded as a symbol of love.
During festivals such as Valentine's Day and Tanabata, people give each other flower cakes to express their love.
In addition, the making of flower cakes is also closely related to folk art and cultural heritage, and in some rural areas of Yunnan, women gather to make flower cakes and chat while sharing their experience, which has become a traditional cultural activity.
Beijing Beijing eight pieces
There are two different theories about the origin of Kyohachi.
According to one theory, the eight famous pastries that came out of the court in Beijing were loved by people from all walks of life and became the first choice for the people of Beijing for a long time.
Another theory is that Jing Ba Pieces were pastries that had existed in the Liaojin period, and gradually formed a representative "Jing Eight Pieces" after evolution.
The color of the Beijing Eight pieces is not only reflected in the numbers, but also in the various auspicious words.
Old Beijingers are very particular about etiquette, whether it is a New Year's festival or a happy event, people often take the Beijing eight to visit relatives and friends.
Kyoto Eight Pieces, also known as "Big Eight Pieces", is a classic Kyoto-style pastry.
The traditional eight pieces of Beijing are mainly divided into: Fu Zi Cake, Taishi Cake, Shou Tao Cake, Xi Zi Cake, Silver Ingot Cake, Roll Cake, Chanter Cake and Jujube Flower Cake.
The production process of these pastries is very exquisite, and it needs to go through multiple processes, such as dough mixing, skin making, filling, baking, etc.
In addition to the Kyoto Eight Pieces, there are many other Beijing-style pastries, such as Beijing-style mooncakes, Beijing-style twists, Beijing-style shortbreads, etc.
These pastries have the characteristics of Beijing in terms of production technology and taste.
The above is the editor's own opinion, do you like to eat pastries and snacks in that place, share your opinion!