Chasan (pastry) facts for kids

Chasan (Chinese: 茶馓; pinyin: chásǎn) is a yummy, crispy pastry from China. It's super popular in a part of China called Jiangsu Province, especially in a historic city named Huai'an. Many people think Huai'an is the true home of Chasan!

What is Chasan?

Chasan is a golden-brown snack that is very crispy. It's made from long, thin strips of dough, like tiny wires, that are rolled and shaped. Chasan can come in many cool shapes, such as a comb, a chrysanthemum flower, or even a pagoda (a type of tower).

A Snack for Tea Time

Chasan is often enjoyed as an afternoon tea snack. This is why it's called "Chasan," because "Cha" means tea in Chinese! Huai'an Chasan has a very long history, going back over a hundred years. People have been enjoying it since the late Qing dynasty. It's known both in China and in other countries.

Long ago, during the Qing Dynasty, Chasan was even a special treat served to the emperor! Later, in 1997, it was officially named one of the "Famous Chinese Snacks" because of its unique and delicious taste.

What is Chasan Made Of?

Chasan is made with simple ingredients:

• Flour
• Sesame oil
• Refined salt
• Yeast powder

How to Enjoy Chasan

There are many fun ways to eat Chasan:

• It can be added to soup, especially a light soup made with sponge gourd.
• You can eat it plain alongside a cup of tea.
• Some people like to soak it in hot water with a little soft sugar or with soya-bean milk.
• It can even be added to a fried dish for extra crunch!

The Legend of Chasan

Long, long ago, there was an official who was supposed to collect money and food for the government. But he was very greedy and only thought about himself. One day, when he was near an ancient city called Shan Yang (which is now Huai'an), he had an amazing dream.

In his dream, a beautiful golden phoenix landed on top of a tall building called Zhenhuai Lou. In its beak, the phoenix held a very special snack called Sanzi, which was like an early version of Chasan. Someone in the dream told the official that this phoenix was magical. If he could get the special Sanzi from its mouth, he would live forever!

When the official woke up, he decided to use this dream to get even richer. He ordered his helpers to find the golden phoenix. If they couldn't, they would be in big trouble!

Of course, his helpers couldn't find a magical golden phoenix. So, they grabbed an old man who made Sanzi for a living. They told the greedy official that the old man was hiding the phoenix. The official forced the old man to give him the phoenix and the special Sanzi before morning, or his whole family would be punished. The old man felt helpless and thought his family was doomed.

But his granddaughter, named Jinfeng, comforted him. She promised she could save their family. When morning came, Jinfeng bravely took a handful of Chasan and jumped into a well. Suddenly, she transformed into a magnificent golden phoenix and flew straight to the greedy official! The official was busy eating and drinking. The phoenix quickly swooped down and gently pecked his eyes. Then, the golden phoenix turned into the most delicate Sanzi. From that day on, people called this special snack "Chasan."