Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry from Machang

Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry from Machang

　　Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry is one of the famous local snacks in Quanjiao, and the version from Machang Town is especially delicious. Its shape resembles the ivory ceremonial tablets used by ancient court officials when paying homage to the emperor—hence the name. It has a crispy, fragrant taste, making it an ideal tea-time treat as well as a high-quality gift for family and friends. It is particularly suitable for the elderly. This pastry was created during the Ming Dynasty by Le Shaofeng. Its main ingredients include flour, goose or duck fat, and roasted sesame seeds. The process involves blending oil-based dough with the base dough, repeatedly folding and rolling it into 24 layers to form a base approximately 16 cm long and 6 cm wide. Sesame seeds are sprinkled on top before it is baked in the oven over low heat until thoroughly cooked. After removal, the charcoal is cleared away, and the pastry is placed back into the oven where residual heat smokes it overnight. When the oven is opened, the aroma is overwhelming. Served on a tea tray, simply pressing both ends with your fingers breaks it neatly into eight pieces. It is believed to be beneficial for those suffering from stomach cold, poor appetite, physical weakness, and night sweats.

　　Legend has it that Le Shaofeng, a native of Quanjiao and Minister of War—one of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty—enjoyed a close relationship with Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. One day, Zhu invited Le to stroll across the Golden Water Bridge. As they walked, Zhu suddenly took Le’s hand and said, “Holding hands on the Golden Bridge, I shall not spare you when there is fault.” Le knelt down and replied, “All my life I have upheld loyalty and righteousness, unafraid even of the emperor’s blade.” Afterward, Le felt uneasy. On another occasion, when Zhu Yuanzhang visited Le’s residence, Le presented him with his homemade Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry for tasting. Picking up the pastry, Zhu smiled and said, “Your invention is ingeniously crafted—this tablet-shaped treat must carry a message.” Le responded by offering to relinquish his official power, retire to his hometown, and recited two poems bidding farewell to court life. The emperor granted his request. Thus, Le Shaofeng lived out his days peacefully and was buried in his hometown (as recorded in county chronicles from the Ming and Qing dynasties). The art of making Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry was passed down from Le’s residence and spread throughout Quanjiao, with Machang Town preserving the original secret techniques. In the 1950s, descendants of the Machang recipe were invited to create Mashu Brand Crispy Pastry as a birthday tribute for Chairman Mao, which was sent to Beijing and earned praise in an official reply from the Central Office.