归仁绿豆饼Suqian Guiren Mung Bean Cake: Dancing Green Delights! A Must-Try Healthy Chinese Snack for Foreign Travelers
Imagine walking through the ancient town of Guiren in Suqian, Jiangsu, as a master baker takes a tray of golden-green round cakes from a traditional oven. The crisp pastry flakes at a touch, while the fragrant mung bean filling releases its aroma with the rising steam—this isn’t just an ordinary mung bean cake, but a 400-year-old culinary heritage treasure! If you think mung beans are only for soups, this traditional Chinese snack will open up a whole new world of bean-based delights.
1. Origin and History
Guiren Mung Bean Cake traces back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties in Guiren Ancient Town. At that time, Guiren was a bustling canal port, and merchants needed portable, nutritious food. Locals ground mung beans into fine flour to make small cakes that were easy to store and delicious. It is said that Emperor Qianlong praised the cake during his southern tours, bringing fame to Guiren Mung Bean Cake. Today, its production techniques are recognized as intangible cultural heritage.
2. Cultural Significance
For Suqian locals, Guiren Mung Bean Cake represents the “taste of home” and warm hospitality. Locals often say, “Take a bag of mung bean cakes on your trip, and it’s like carrying a piece of home.” This snack reflects the cultural fusion of the Grand Canal, combining the heartiness of northern pastries with the refinement of southern desserts.
3. Ingredients
The key ingredients are locally grown Guiren mung beans (thin skin, plump inside), high-quality wheat flour, and traditionally pressed rapeseed oil. What makes it special is the traditional baking method—slow-baked in a ceramic oven to achieve a uniquely crisp crust while keeping the mung bean filling soft and aromatic, perfectly balancing crispy outside and tender inside.
4. Preparation
The secret lies in grinding and baking: soak and peel the mung beans, grind them into a fine paste, shape the dough into small cakes, and slowly bake in a ceramic oven. The baker must constantly turn the cakes for even baking until golden brown. This skill takes decades of experience to master.
5. Flavor and Texture
The first bite offers a satisfying crunch, followed by the fresh, delicate aroma of mung beans. The crust flakes off while the filling remains soft and subtly sweet. The combination of bean fragrance and pastry aroma creates a sweet, but not cloying, experience that keeps you reaching for more.
6. How to Eat
Best enjoyed with a pot of Biluochun tea or local hawthorn tea. Locals sometimes dip the cake in tea, enjoying it when it’s half-crispy and half-soft. It also makes a perfect travel snack or a breakfast treat with a glass of milk.
7. Where to Try
Available at specialty stores and ancient streets in Suqian. Recommended: Guiren Old Brand Bakery, Suqian Specialty Shops (15–30 RMB per bag). Ask for “a bag of Guiren Mung Bean Cakes.” If you prefer them freshly baked and crispy, say “fresh from the oven”; if you like them softer, say “softened.”
8. Traveler Tips
In English, it’s called “Guiren Mung Bean Cake.” It’s best to eat with your hand to catch falling flakes! This is a fully vegetarian snack, making it suitable for health-conscious travelers.
Fun Home Experiment
You can try it at home: soak and peel mung beans, steam and mash them, wrap in dough, and bake in the oven. While it won’t be as crisp as oven-baked ceramic cakes, you can still enjoy the fragrant mung bean flavor.
When strolling along Suqian’s ancient canal and smelling the sweet bean aroma in the air, don’t forget to follow the scent. Guiren Mung Bean Cake is more than a snack—it’s a historical legacy that shows the best flavors come from careful craftsmanship. Add it to your “must-eat in China list”—next time in Jiangsu, find these dancing green little cakes and let their crispy aroma become one of your most delightful culinary memories. Remember: if you haven’t tried Guiren Mung Bean Cake, you haven’t truly experienced the essence of Grand Canal culture!
