The "secret" of the name of the non-heritage marzipan
A piece of macaroon in the mouth, sweet and pineed, almond fragrance overflowing. Although the name of the traditional Tsui Xiang Yuan almond cake has the word "almond", the main ingredient is mung beans. The earliest creators soaked, dried and ground mung beans, marinated fatty pork slices with sugar, and made mung bean sandwich meat cakes by printing and beating cakes with traditional wooden cakes and baking them on a charcoal stove. Because it has a faint almond aroma when baked, and the mold when making the cake is the shape of an almond, it is named "almond cake".
Tsui Xiang Yuan almond cake
The story of the creation of macaroons begins more than a hundred years ago.
In the last year of the Qing Dynasty, there was a scholarly disciple in Shiqi Xingning in Xiangshan County, Xiao Youbai, once because his mother had a birthday, because there was no decent thing to entertain the guests, he was particularly worried, at this time, the maid of the family Pan Yanxiang used mung bean powder and sugar marinated fatty pork slices to make mung bean sandwich meat cakes. Everyone was full of praise after eating, and since then the Xiao family has often made this kind of cake to entertain guests. Because it is full of fragrant after eating, Xiao Youbai named this kind of cake "mouth fragrant almond cake".
Later, in order to supplement the family, the Xiao family began to make almond cakes to sell, and changed the almond-shaped cakes that were easy to lack horns to round, because there were too many strokes of the "mouth" character, which was changed to the Cantonese homophone "chew" word when carving, and the cakes in Zhongshan generally had the word "Garden" at that time, so there was also the name of "Chew Xiang Yuan". Since then, the traditional process of making almond cakes in Tsui Heung Yuen has been passed on to Macao by the descendants of the Siu family and has been well inherited in Macao.
The heritage and innovation of almond cakes
As a provincial intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong, the traditional production process of Tsui Xiang Yuan almond cake has been passed down for five generations, and the main inheritors are Lu Weisen and Zeng Guozhao. From the selection of mung beans, to the soaking of beans, grinding powder, hand-made, each link is a test of the craftsmanship of the maker. Lu Weisen shared the handmade cake making technique of almond cake - the maker generally uses the internal force, and the flexible force of the palm will make the overall body looser.
When making, the flexible force of the palm will make the almond cake body looser as a whole.
With the development of society, mechanized production has gradually replaced manual operation, but in the process of cake making, Tsui Xiang Yuan still follows the tradition of hand-made cakes, using soft and rigid force to pinch and give almond cakes a unique flavor. In addition, the taste of macaroons is also more diverse. In addition to the classic sandwich almond cakes, such as seaweed meat pine almond cakes, cheese milk emperor almond cakes, crab yellow almond cakes, etc., are also popular with young consumers and have become a good gift for Cantonese people.
Today's macaroons are more diverse in taste and have become a gift for Cantonese people.
8,000 kilometres away, marzipans are its perfect partner
The name is also macaroon, but the Chinese and Western practices are very different. In Italy, about 8,000 kilometers from Guangdong, a traditional biscuit here, cantuccini, is made from fine flour, egg whites, sugar and almonds.
Courtesy of the Italian Tourist Office of the Cantuccini Cantuccini
The finished specifications of the traditional Italian marzipan are 10 cm long, 2.8 cm wide and 3 cm high, and the humidity is maintained between 3-7%, which is the basis for keeping the surface of the macaroon crisp and aromatic. Almond-rich Italian almond cakes have a rich almond aroma and dried fruit aroma, and are also more crispy.
Marzipans are a specialty of the Tuscan region of Italy. Courtesy of the Italian Tourist Office
"Macaroons are a masterpiece of Italian cuisine, a specialty of the Tuscan region of Italy, especially in the city of Prado, where locals usually enjoy it with the Italian dessert wine Vinsanto." Cristiano Varotti, general manager of the Shanghai representative office of the Italian National Tourism Administration, introduced.
Locals pair it with the Italian sweet wine Vinsanto to enjoy marzipans. Courtesy of the Italian Tourist Office
Western food is accompanied by fine wine, and you can appreciate the beauty of it, and Italian cuisine is no exception. In addition to desserts such as macaroons, a wide variety of Italian dishes can be paired with different wines, which is also one of the characteristics of local food culture.
Among them, paired with small dumplings, refreshing Prosecco sparkling wine is a good choice. The bubbles in the wine can better reduce the strong taste of butter and other sauces, so as to set off the fresh flavor of vegetables such as mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Soave White wine is a great choice to pair with pizza, Suvawe mineral flavor, lively acidity, fresh apple, pear and flower, can be paired with pesto and cheese slices. In addition, its light body is paired with spicy sausages and mushrooms, which is also just right.
>>> prepare for the Zhongshan Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Tour, these accommodation packages can be stockpiled
The Westin Zhongshan Lihe | Deluxe City View King Room 1 night 2 breakfast + 2 single buffet dinners
Why you recommend it: The Westin Zhongshan Lihe is a new landmark in Zhongshan, located on the west bank of the Pearl River Delta, with easy access to Zhongshan Port Wharf and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. All rooms offer expansive views of the vibrant cityscape and the west bank of the Pearl River from the 59th floor.
The original price was 1300 yuan Ctrip price 950 yuan
The Westin Zhongshan Lee and The Westin
Le Meridien Zhongshan Poly | Explore Twin Room 1 Night 2 breakfast + 1 single Balinese oil massage 60 minutes
Reason for recommendation: The hotel is located in Zhongshan Port Town, which has many historical sites, temples, modern shopping malls and wetland parks, through Le Meridien's brand concept of "Explore the World, Reveal the Destination" and the unique triple filter - Destination, Culture and Food, guests can feel the infinite charm of the "Jucheng" in the Pearl River Delta.
The original price was 1436 yuan Ctrip price 988 yuan
Le Meridien Zhongshan Poly Hotel
Crowne Plaza Zhongshan Yong'an New Town | Superior Twin Room 1 night 2 large 1 small breakfast 1 person + Zhan Garden 2 large 1 small ticket 1
Reason for recommendation: The hotel is located in the core area of Zhongshan South District, adjacent to Yong'an Square, Daxin Xinduhui, across the street from Zhongshan South District Cultural Center, and very convenient to Sun Wen Memorial Park, Admiralty Reservoir, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Zhongshan Zhan Garden and other leisure and entertainment attractions, which is an ideal place for business trips and family-friendly travel.
The original price was 659 yuan Ctrip price 588 yuan
Crowne Plaza Zhongshan Yong'an New Town
【Written by】 Zheng Jielin
【Video Production】 Zhou Xinyu Luo Junmin (Intern)
【Video Script】Zheng Jielin
【Poster】 Cui Chengbi
【Planning/Co-ordination】Cai Huafeng Zheng Jielin
【New Media Operation】Cai Huafeng Ma Hua
【Production】Good Life Lab
Video loading...
【Author】 Zheng Jielin;Zhou Xinyu
Good Life Lab
Source: South+ - Create more value