Cowhells cake facts for kids
Cowhells cake (also called Niujingao in Chinese) is a special sweet treat from Longchuan County in Guangdong Province, China. It's a yummy cake made mostly from sticky rice flour and sugar. People in Longchuan County are very proud of this traditional snack!
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How Cowhells Cake Started
Cowhells cake is a very old food in Longchuan County. It has been around for a long time! There are two interesting stories, or legends, about how this special cake first came to be.
The Qin Dynasty Story
Some people believe Cowhells cake was invented during the Qin dynasty, a very old time in China. Back then, a leader named Zhao Tuo ruled a kingdom called Nanyue.
Later, a new emperor named Liu Bang took over China. He sent a messenger, Lu Jia, to meet Zhao Tuo. Lu Jia was supposed to convince Zhao Tuo to join the new empire.
At a big dinner, Zhao Tuo offered Lu Jia a special cake. Lu Jia loved it and asked what it was. Zhao Tuo said it was a unique food from Nanyue. Lu Jia liked the cake so much that Zhao Tuo gave him many to take back to Emperor Liu Bang. When Lu Jia returned, he shared the cake with the emperor. Soon, this delicious cake became very popular all over Nanyue!
The Magician's Story
Hundreds of years ago, there was a magician who found it hard to make money with his magic tricks. He decided to try something new and become a baker. With help from his wife, he created a special cake and opened a pastry shop.
Even though their cake was tasty, not many people knew about their shop. The magician was still struggling to earn a living. His wife had an idea: why not use his magic to get people to notice the shop?
The magician tried using magic to make the cake look appealing, but people just came to watch the magic and then left without buying. He was still having trouble. So, he tried a different plan: using the name of the cake itself.
The next morning, people walking by were surprised to see a cow outside his shop! There was also a sign that said he could make a delicious cake from a cow's tendon. People were doubtful, but the magician did what he promised. The cake was amazing! More and more customers came, and he became very successful. That's how the cake got its name, "Cowhells cake."
How Cowhells Cake Grew
Cowhells cakes are a famous food from Longchuan County. People often buy them as gifts for friends or family when they visit, especially during holidays like Spring Festival.
The company that makes these cakes, Laolong Niujingao Company, used to make them all by hand. It took a long time! Ten workers would spend over ten hours on one batch. Three hours were for making the cake, and seven hours were for steaming it. During busy times, like the Spring Festival, they often ran out of cakes because they couldn't make them fast enough.
In 1990, the company started using machines to help make the cakes. This allowed them to produce many more cakes much faster!
Also, when the cakes were first made, they only stayed fresh for a few days. This meant they couldn't be sold very far away. In the 1990s, the company's researchers found a way to make the cakes stay fresh for up to three months! This was a big deal because it meant Cowhells cakes could be sold in many more places.
Today, the company has a large factory. They have modern equipment like grinding machines, blenders, and steamers. They make over 35 tons of Cowhells cakes every year!
Delicious Flavors
Cowhells cakes come in different tasty flavors!
- Original Flavor: This cake uses the traditional recipe. It's made from sticky rice flour, a sweet syrup called maltose, dried orange peel, peanut oil, and glucose syrup. It's the classic taste!
- Coconut Flavor: This one is popular with young people. It's made with sticky rice flour, maltose syrup, peanut oil, white sugar, and dried coconut flakes. It has a sweet, tropical taste.
- Ginger Flavor: Ginger candy is a popular snack for the Hakka people. So, there's a ginger-flavored Cowhells cake too! It's made with sticky rice flour, maltose syrup, peanut oil, white sugar, and ginger. It has a warm, spicy-sweet kick.
