Have you ever tasted a cake made from plants? 🌿🍰
In the beautiful mountains of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, the Tujia people have a special springtime tradition. They make Qingming Cakes, a yummy treat that’s full of the fresh flavors of the season!
What’s in a Qingming Cake?
The main ingredients are:
- Fresh cudweed leaves 🌿
- Glutinous rice flour 🍚
- Rice flour 🍚
- Diced tofu 🥢
- Wild onions 🧅
- Chili peppers 🌶️
How do they make it?
- Pick fresh cudweed leaves: They gather the tender green leaves that just sprouted!
- Wash and prepare: The leaves are washed, and the glutinous rice is soaked.
- Pound together: The cudweed and rice are mashed up until smooth.
- Sift the mixture: This makes the dough extra soft and sticky.
- Cook the cudweed: It’s fried until fully cooked.
- Mix the dough: Rice flours and cooked cudweed are mixed with warm water and kneaded into dough.
- Make the filling: Tofu, wild onions, and chili peppers are prepared.
- Shape the cakes: The dough is divided, filled, and rolled into round cakes. The round shape means family and happiness! 🎉
- Steam them: Finally, the cakes are steamed until ready to eat!
A Taste of Tradition
The Qingming Cake isn’t just food—it’s a piece of Tujia culture passed down through generations. When they eat it, they’re enjoying the gifts of nature and celebrating their heritage. It’s a special way to welcome spring and think of loved ones. 💚
Would you like to try a Qingming Cake someday?
Reference(s):
Qingming Cake: Guizhou Tujia's time-honored festive delicacy
cgtn.com
