The Evolution of Tiantai Glutinous Rice Cake: From Traditional Food to Cultural Icon
01. History and Heritage of Tiantai Glutinous Rice Cake
Origins and Folk Status of Glutinous Rice Cake
Glutinous rice cake, with its auspicious meaning of "steaming and rising" (symbolizing continuous improvement), has long been widely popular among the people, especially in the Tiantai area. It has become an essential delicacy at wedding feasts, birthday celebrations, and other banquets. Legend has it that during the Southern Song Dynasty, glutinous rice cake began to circulate among the folk in Tiantai. It was refined by Li Chuanxi and became a representative local specialty pastry of the Tiantai region. At wedding banquets, birthday feasts, and other grand occasions, it is always an indispensable delicacy. Notably, in the "Sixteen Feast Dishes" – the most upscale banquet in Tiantai in the past – glutinous rice cake stood out as the most characteristic steamed pastry.
Inheritance and Development of the Craft
In 1956, with the implementation of the public-private partnership policy, Li Chuanxi's business "Taoyuan Chun" was integrated into "Tiantai Restaurant," and his glutinous rice cake making technique was subsequently passed down to the apprentices of the restaurant. As Li's skills entered Tiantai Restaurant, the craft was preserved in 1956. In 2008, Xu Zicheng founded "Tongji Food Factory," later renamed "Taizhou Yuqingzhai Food Co., Ltd.," dedicating himself to collecting and systematizing the folk techniques of making glutinous rice cake in Tiantai. Xu established the company, focusing on preserving and innovating the craft of glutinous rice cake. On the basis of inheriting traditional techniques, the company has continuously innovated and improved.
02. The Production Process of Glutinous Rice Cake
Process Flow
The production of glutinous rice cake includes steps such as beating eggs, adding sugar and mixing, adding glutinous rice flour and blending, and steaming. The detailed process is as follows:
(1) First, crack the eggs into a bowl and stir them with chopsticks or a bamboo whisk until the egg liquid becomes thick and creamy. This step requires patience and persistence, as the beating time affects the softness of the cake.
(2) Next, add white sugar to the egg mixture and stir in one direction until the sugar is completely dissolved in the egg liquid.
(3) Then, once the egg-sugar mixture is well whipped, quickly add the glutinous rice flour to the liquid, stirring continuously to ensure the flour is evenly incorporated.
(4) Finally, add water to a steamer, line the steaming tray with a cloth, pour the mixed glutinous rice cake batter onto it, and steam over high heat for about 45 minutes until the cake rises and turns a light yellow and soft texture, ready to be enjoyed.
Glutinous rice cake is known for its delicate texture, soft and moist consistency, sweet and sticky taste, and warm aroma. It can be enjoyed either cold or hot, offering a unique culinary experience.
03. Cultural Influence of Glutinous Rice Cake
Awards and Honors
At the 11th China Food Festival in 2010, the "Glutinous Rice Cake" produced by Taizhou Yuqingzhai Food Co., Ltd. stood out and won the dual honors of "Century-old Famous Snack of China Time-honored Brand" and "Famous Chinese Snack." At the 22nd Hong Kong Food Expo in 2011, the glutinous rice cake once again shone brightly, winning a Gold Award and becoming the only domestic enterprise in the pastry category to receive this honor. In addition, the company was also awarded the title of "Zhejiang Time-honored Brand" in 2010. Today, the production of glutinous rice cake has become a significantly influential cultural industry in the Tiantai area. These multiple awards have further enhanced its influence both domestically and internationally, promoting its development into a cultural industry of Tiantai.
Translator：Jiayang Lin