"Chengzhen" Orange Cake

"Chengzhen" Orange Cake

　　The time-honored "Chengzhen Orange Cake" is a tea accompaniment pastry made using traditional handmade techniques. It is crafted from premium glutinous rice, peanut oil, white sugar, eggs, cooked rice flour, and other ingredients through meticulous processing, featuring a unique craftsmanship. The finished product has a jade-like luster, is soft and tender, refreshingly sweet, and rich in nutrition, making it suitable for all ages. Moreover, it has a long shelf life and is therefore widely loved by the public, spreading across Southeast Asia and becoming a must-buy item for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan compatriots, and overseas Chinese returning to their hometowns.

　　 Before the Qing Dynasty, in the folk communities around Guanqiao, a type of cake primarily made from glutinous rice was produced during festivals and celebrations. During the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1723–1735), Lin Guangwu from Chiling in Guanqiao was skilled at making this cake. Thanks to an opportunity when imperial envoy Chen Wance came to Anxi on a relief mission by imperial decree, the cake was presented to and tasted by Emperor Yongzheng, who then named it "Orange Cake." During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875–1908), Lin Guangwu’s descendant, Lin Weibian, refined the recipe, developing a unique set of handmade production techniques involving three steps: grinding, mixing, and cutting. "During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875–1908), Lin Weibian (courtesy name Jingyuan) from Chiling in Guanqiao opened the 'Chengzhen' shop and developed the 'Chengzhen' Orange Cake. The second-generation successor, Lin Wenchuan (courtesy name Zushi), carried on his father’s business and ran the 'Chengzhen' legacy shop with great success.

　　 After 1978, the third-generation successor Lin Binghuo (courtesy name Xiuming) and the fourth-generation successor Lin Guoji, inherited the traditional craft and integrated modern technology, carefully selecting raw and auxiliary materials, which further improved the quality of the "Chengzhen" Orange Cake and expanded its sales. In March 1996, Anxi Chengzhen Food Co., Ltd. was established, with Lin Binghuo as the legal representative and Lin Guoji as the general manager. The company is located at No. 880–882 Dongda Road, Guanqiao Town, beside Provincial Highway 206. Since its establishment, the company’s business has continued to grow. In addition to producing the "Chengzhen" Orange Cake, it also developed and produced a series of other products including Pearl Tofu (Sesame Tofu, Peanut Tofu), Honey Kumquats, Honey Ginger Slices, and Cunzao. Its products are of superior quality, beautifully packaged, and renowned far and wide. They are bestsellers in Southern Fujian and Southeast Asia, becoming an essential auspicious food for celebrations.

　　　　In September 1999, the company established a website on the Internet to conduct online trade, achieving certain results and further enhancing its reputation. In 2000, the renowned tea expert Professor Zhang Tianfu inscribed for the company: "Taste Anxi Tieguanyin, and try Chengzhen Orange Cake." In September 2000, the "Chengzhen" Orange Cake and its series of products won the "Gold Award at the First Quanzhou International Internet Famous, Special, and New Products Expo." The "Chengzhen" Orange Cake and its series were designated by the Anxi County People's Government as the exclusive accompanying cakes for the 2000 China Tea Capital (Anxi) Tea Culture Tourism Festival and the First China Anxi Tieguanyin Oolong Tea Festival, the 2001 Cross-Strait Tea Culture Exchange Conference, and the 2002 China Tea Industry International Cooperation Summit, winning the love of people from all walks of life at home and abroad. In November 2002, the company was chosen as the filming location for the TV drama "Princess Elegance," and gained nationwide fame following the broadcast of the show.