Ai Wowo: Beijing’s Sweet “Little Snowball”(艾窝窝)
Dear travelers, if you get tired walking through Beijing’s alleys, don’t miss a hidden local dessert — Ai Wowo! Unlike Peking duck, it’s not world-famous, but its sweet, light flavor quietly wins everyone’s heart.
1. History & Cultural Meaning
Ai Wowo dates back to the Ming Dynasty as a royal dessert.
It was originally a palace sweet, later loved by Empress Dowager Cixi.
Eventually, it spread to the streets and became a spring and Qingming favorite in Beijing.
For locals, it’s the taste of spring and childhood memories in the alleys.
It symbolizes peace and sweetness, like a small round “luck ball” filled with warmth and simple living philosophy.
2. Ingredients & Taste
The outer layer is steamed glutinous rice flour — soft with slight chewiness.
The filling combines sweet sesame, peanuts, sugar, and crushed hawthorn jelly.
Finally, it’s rolled in white rice flour, looking like a tiny snowball — absolutely adorable!
Taste profile: first, soft glutinous rice, then crunchy nuts and melting sweetness.
The slightly tart hawthorn balances the sugar, making it refreshing and not too heavy.
3. How to Eat & Where to Find
Ai Wowo is a classic Chinese snack or tea dessert.
Pair it with jasmine tea for an authentic Beijing afternoon treat.
You can find it in old snack shops or halal restaurants, like Huguo Temple Snack or Jinfang Snack.
A portion usually costs 10–15 RMB — great value! Order by saying: “Two Ai Wowo, please.”
Tips for travelers:
English name: Ai Wowo or Glutinous Rice Ball with Sweet Fillings.
It’s quite sweet, so pair with tea if you prefer less sugar.
Making Ai Wowo
- Soak glutinous rice overnight, steam, then mash while warm.
- Roast and crush walnuts and sesame, mix with sugar and hawthorn jelly for filling.
- Flatten a piece of rice dough, wrap the filling, roll into a ball, then coat with rice flour.
Explore Beijing’s alleys to find this sweet “snowball”!
It may not have the spicy punch of hotpot, but its gentle sweetness leaves a lasting memory.
Add Ai Wowo to your China food must-try list — sweet travel memories are always unforgettable.
