Wandouhuang facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Wandouhuanger |
|---|---|
| Type | Pastry |
| Place of origin | China |
| Region or state | Beijing |
| Main ingredients | Pea, water, sugar |
Wandouhuang (pronounced "wahn-doh-hwahng") is a yummy, traditional snack or dessert from China. It's also called Wandouhuanger. This sweet treat was first popular with the Han people in China. Later, it became a favorite in the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty. Wandouhuang has been famous in Beijing since the Ming Dynasty and is now one of Beijing's most well-known traditional snacks.
Wandouhuang is a soft, paste-like cake. It has a light yellow color, like ginger or saffron. It tastes a little sweet and is known for being light and refreshing. The main things used to make it are yellow peas (or pea flour), water, and sugar. Wandouhuang used to be a special spring treat. You would often see it at Spring Temple Fairs. But today, you can find it all year round in restaurants across China.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name Wandouhuang is Chinese.
- Wandou means "peas" in Chinese.
- Huang means "yellow" in Chinese.
So, it literally means "yellow peas"!
A Look Back in Time
Old Traditions
Long ago in China, people would sell Wandouhuang during the Shangsi Festival. This festival happened on the third day of the third month in the lunar calendar. During this time, people would travel to enjoy a spring break. Many people also visited temples to pray for good luck and safety from Chinese gods. Big fairs were held around these temples.
Wandouhuang became popular at these fairs because vendors sold it there. People loved its taste so much that eating Wandouhuang during the Shangsi Festival became a tradition. It was a special folk snack for the Han Chinese people.
A Royal Story
During the Qing Dynasty, there was a powerful leader named Empress Dowager Cixi. One day, while she was relaxing at her palace in Beihai Park, she heard loud sounds from the street. She was curious and asked her helpers to find out what was happening.
Her helpers told her it was vendors selling Wandouhuang and another snack called yundoujuan. These were special treats from that area. Cixi asked the vendors to come inside and show her these desserts. After she tasted them, Cixi loved these simple snacks very much! She asked the vendors to work in the royal kitchen of the Forbidden City. Their job was to cook only these desserts for her.
When Wandouhuang came to the Forbidden City, the royal chefs made the recipe even better. They used finer ingredients. Because of this, there are two versions of Wandouhuang: one special recipe for Empress Cixi, and the original folk version for everyone else.
What's in It?
Wandouhuang is made from peas (or pea flour), water, and sugar. The peas are carefully turned into a smooth purée. This purée is then mixed with water and sugar. This special process makes Wandouhuang taste very delicate and smooth.
