Shanghe Horseshoe Sesame Cake

Shanghe Horseshoe Sesame Cake

　　The Shanghe Horseshoe Sesame Cake has a long history and is said to have been famous as early as the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. According to records, in the late Qing Dynasty, the Zhang family operating the cakes in the county town and the Kang family from Xiaojiezhi (a village in Huai Ren Town) were quite well-known. Their cakes were often taken by traveling merchants to other regions and even to the capital, which helped the "Horseshoe Sesame Cake" spread far and wide.

　　　A famous local dish of Shanghe — the Horseshoe Sesame Cake — is made primarily from flour, vegetable oil, and sesame seeds, and is baked in a specially designed oven. Its shape resembles a horseshoe, hence the name.

　　Historical Origins

　　　　It is said that when Emperor Qianlong traveled to the south of the Yangtze River, the Horseshoe Sesame Cake and crisp sugar-fired cakes were offered as tribute to him and were highly praised by both the emperor and his ministers. This shows that the Horseshoe Sesame Cake and sugar-fired cakes were already widely known and beloved local delicacies of Shanghe.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　　　The Horseshoe Sesame Cake is of high quality and boasts distinctive features. Fresh out of the oven, the cake has a crispy outer layer and soft inner part, combining a flaky texture with tenderness and a rich aroma. It excels in color, taste, and appearance. It offers a unique flavor profile with three distinct scents: caramelized, fragrant, and sesame. The cake is meticulously crafted, affordable, easy to store, and convenient to carry.

　　Production Method

　　　　The production method of the Horseshoe Sesame Cake is very elaborate, requiring over ten steps from making the dough to baking the final product. The ingredients are strictly measured, with precise ratios for the flour, oil, crispy layer, and sesame seeds. Each cake weighs about 2 liang (100 grams), but is made from two dough pieces. One piece is rolled with pre-fried crispy layers to form a stacked structure that becomes the cake’s interior (“belly”), then the other piece is wrapped around the outside to form the crust. The combined dough is then shaped on a smooth stone block into a horseshoe form, coated with sesame seeds and caramelized syrup, and finally baked on the inside wall of a special oven for seven to eight minutes.

　　In addition to the strict ingredient control, mastering the baking temperature is also crucial. The oven used for making the Horseshoe Sesame Cake is somewhat unique: its flat cooking surface faces downward while the base faces upward. To maintain the required temperature inside the oven, the bottom is sealed with mud to make it airtight. The ideal fuels for baking are charcoal and rice husks, though sawdust can be used as a substitute.

　　Development Prospects

　　　　Over a long period of historical development, the Shanghe Horseshoe Sesame Cake has been continuously refined. In recent years, the Shanghe County Party Committee and County Government have placed great emphasis on inheriting and developing this traditional delicacy, taking measures to expand production and improve quality. With the reform of the rural economic system and market liberalization, the Horseshoe Sesame Cake has seen significant growth. Currently, there are more than a dozen cake shops in the county town alone, along with over 120 others spread across towns and villages throughout the county. Statistics show that the annual production of Horseshoe Sesame Cakes in the county amounts to over 300 tons. These widespread shops not only continue traditional methods but also innovate and improve, each offering unique characteristics and flavors. They compete, learn from one another, and mutually promote progress. The products not only meet local demand but are also frequently purchased in bulk by surrounding counties, cities, and even Jinan, the provincial capital.

　　Due to their excellent quality and affordability, suitable for all ages, the Horseshoe Sesame Cakes are a great choice for entertaining guests or giving as gifts. Despite the abundance of shops across the county, the supply still falls short of demand. During holidays, people rush to buy them in even greater numbers, highlighting their broad market appeal. Additionally, Shanghe County enjoys unique advantages in producing the cakes: first, it has historically been a major grain, flour, and oil production base, and in recent years, the area under high-quality wheat cultivation has continued to expand. All basic ingredients needed for the cakes are readily available locally, ensuring abundant resources that form a solid foundation for this specialty product. Second, skilled artisans are found in villages and towns across the county, forming a strong technical workforce for baking the cakes. Therefore, the Horseshoe Sesame Cake holds very broad development prospects.