Huishan Yousu, a traditional dessert produced in Wuxi. [Photo/xuexi.cn]
Huishan Yousu is a famous snack that originated in Huishan Ancient Town, Wuxi's Liangxi district. It is a semi-circle cake made of vegetable oil, flour, sugar, and fruit.
The dessert has a history of more than 600 years and is said to have been invented by monks in the Zhufo Buddhist Temple at the foot of Huishan Mountain as a way to pay back tourists and pilgrims visiting the site.
The dessert also has a Buddhist-style name -- the navel of Four Heavenly Kings, or Buddhist guardians, due to its crisp golden exterior.
It has a rich taste which is both sweet and salty as well as a permeating fragrance, ideal for people of all ages.
Huishan Yousu is a semi-circle cake made of vegetable oil, flour, sugar, and fruit. [Photo provided to wuxinews.com.cn]
The process of making Huishan Yousu requires skill and patience. The scarfskin is made of flour, vegetable oil, sugar, salt and green onion, while the stuffing is a mix of red and green orange-peel strips, walnut meat, sugar, oil, and salt. The small, round stuffed dough is sprinkled with white sesame seeds before baking. After just a few minutes, the tasty dessert will begin to look irresistible.
Almost all Wuxi locals are surprised when they have their first bite of the dessert as children. Nowadays, it is a must-try Wuxi specialty and an integral part of the city's history.
