Guoshilin Shanxi-style mooncake making technique

桂林山西式月餅製作技術是一種傳統的漢代工藝，可以追溯到清代康熙時期。

基本介紹

• Category：Craftsmanship
• Region：Shanxi Province
• ICH No：Ⅷ-12
• ICH Level：National

簡介

Guoshilin Shanxi-style mooncake making technique is a traditional Han’s craftsmanship, which can date back to Kangxi Period in the Qing Dynasty. Till Guangxu Period, Shanxi Guoshilin mooncake has enjoyed a great reputation in Jinzhong, Taiyuan, Datong, Linfen etc., and has become the ideal gift for the Mid-autumn Festival in people of these cities, with being integrated into the traditional festival customs.

History

Legend - The Incoming of Hu Cake from the West

There are multiple different versions about the incoming of Hu cake. For example, some people claim that Hu cake was introduced by Zhang Jian, while others believe that it’s brought by Ban Chao or Jin Ridi from the Western Regions.

The earliest record of Hu cake was on Xu Han Shu(continuation of historiography of Han Dynasty) written by Sima Biao. Later, the story of “a proud son-in-law” in Jin Shuhas enjoyed great popularity.

Hu cake is usually made by the flour, butter, sesame and salt etc. through baking. And its materials and making methods have changed with the integration of Chinese culture.

Evolution - From Tang Cake to Guoshilin

Tang cake is developed by Shanxi people on the basis of Hu cake, with bean paste and maltose as the filling. The first Tang emperor Li Yuan loved the Tang cake so deeply that it had great reputation in the High Tang Period. And in later dynasties, the Chinese food culture presents both highly integrated and rich localized features, which are greatly typical in Shanxi and lay a foundation for the evolution of Tang cake to Guoshilin cake.

In 1638 of Chongde Period, Qing Dynasty, a bakery run by Mr. Guo, Du, and Lin in Taiyuan sold Tang cake exclusively. And the cake improved by the three later enjoyed great popularity, and was called “Guoshilin Cake” by people.

In 1929, the newly opened Shuanghecheng in Liuxiang, Taiyuan put great emphasis on the production and development of Guoshilin cake, which is renowned in Shanxi and beloved by people.

Techniques

The making of Guoshilin Shanxi-style mooncakes adopts special kneading, burning and storing methods, which results in the unique inheritance of Shanxi cake based on experience.

Cake-making

The baker usually divides the hot dough into small pieces and kneads it into appropriate shapes for the filling. The dividing of dough and filling are of great importance in the whole process.

Bakery

The bakery of Guoshilin mooncake use anthracite coals produced in Yangquan and set a strict control on the temperature of the stove. And the brushing of syrup in different time on the cake leads to the golden color of its surface.

Storage

The special storage technique of finished product is a unique feature of Guoshilin mooncake. For example, the oven-fresh cakes are supposed to be kept in pottery pots for a month, which can guarantee the taste of cakes.

Inheriting Condition

The wholly handmade technique of Guoshilin Shanxi-style mooncake and its inheriting by words and deeds have kept the traditional craftsmanship of folk cake-making industry in Shanxi Han people from Ming and Qing Dynasty. And the filling of flour has become the feature of northern cake-making techniques.

However, the making Guoshilin Shanxi-style mooncake has been short of raw materials, since the planting structure of corps has changed in recent years. In addition, the traditional handmade techniques result in the difficulty in developing its living space and scale of production.