Cocktail bun facts for kids
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| Type | Sweet bun |
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| Place of origin | Hong Kong |
| Main ingredients | Coconut, butter or margarine |
| Cocktail bun | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 雞尾包 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 鸡尾包 | ||||||||||||
| Jyutping | gai1 mei5 baau1 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | cock (chicken) tail bun | ||||||||||||
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The cocktail bun (Chinese: 雞尾包; Jyutping: gai1 mei5 baau1) is a yummy Hong Kong-style sweet bun. It has a special filling made from shredded coconut. This bun is one of the most famous baked treats from Hong Kong.
Contents
History of the Cocktail Bun
The cocktail bun was first made in the 1950s in Hong Kong. Bakery owners did not want to throw away buns that were still good to eat. So, they came up with a clever idea.
They decided to use these day-old buns to make something new. They ground up the old buns and mixed them with sugar and coconut. This made a tasty filling. Then, they wrapped fresh bread dough around this mixture. This is how the first "cocktail bun" was created.
The name "cocktail bun" is quite interesting. Some say it's because the bakers mixed many different ingredients. This was like a bartender mixing different drinks to make a "cocktail." In Chinese, the name means "chicken-tail bun."
How Cocktail Buns Are Made
At first, the filling was just old buns mixed with sugar. But over time, the recipe changed. Now, shredded coconut and butter or margarine are key ingredients. These make the filling extra rich and sweet.
Each cocktail bun is usually about 6 to 8 inches long. It is also 2 to 3 inches high. They are shaped a bit like a small baguette. You can find these delicious buns in many Chinese bakeries. They are often sold next to other popular sweet buns, like the pineapple bun. Both of these tasty treats started in Hong Kong.
Taste and Texture of the Bun
The bun itself is very soft and a little sweet. This is typical for breads made in Hong Kong. The coconut filling inside is thick and rich. It has a buttery and sweet flavor that many people love.
Before baking, the top of the bun gets an egg wash. This makes it shiny and golden brown. Bakers also add stripes or simple designs using some of the buttery coconut filling. Often, they sprinkle sesame seeds on top for extra crunch and flavor.
In Taiwan, the cocktail bun is a bit firmer. However, it still has the same delicious filling. It also often has sesame seeds on top, just like the Hong Kong version.
See also
In Spanish: Bollo de cola de gallo para niños
