Shayang Taishi Cake

Shayang Taishi Cake

　　Lu Jiuyuan was a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and educator of the Southern Song Dynasty, equally famous as the well-known Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi of the time, historically referred to as "Zhu-Lu." In the second year of the Shaoshing era (1191 AD), he was appointed as the military governor of Jingmen (which then governed areas including present-day Shayang, Dongbao, Duodao, and Dangyang), where he achieved remarkable political accomplishments and fostered a positive social atmosphere. Prime Minister Zhou Bida praised the governance of Jingmen as the result of Lu Jiuyuan’s hands-on dedication in every matter.

　　Legend has it that when Lu Jiuyuan, the Neo-Confucian scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, served as the military governor of Jingmen, a grand tutor at the imperial court held him in especially high esteem. Therefore, whenever Master Lu visited the capital, the grand tutor would invite him to his mansion for tea and pastries. The two often engaged in lively discussions about Neo-Confucianism while enjoying the treats. Whenever Lu Jiuyuan left the capital, the grand tutor would always present him with some court pastries as gifts, among which the camellia pastry was the most precious and especially favored by Master Lu. 　　Master Lu was highly respected and deeply loved by the people of Jingmen for his virtuous character. Many renowned chefs in the area competed to create various pastries and foods for him to try. Later, someone made a flaky pastry, which came to be known as Shayang Taishi Cake, also called Camellia Pastry or First-Class Pastry, and also referred to as Live-Oil Flaky Pastry. It is white with a yellowish tint, fluffy and crisp, sweet and delicious, with clear layers of flakiness. A bright red dot in the center contrasts beautifully with the white, giving it an elegant and attractive appearance—hence it is also named "Camellia Pastry." 　　Later, to show his gratitude for the grand tutor’s deep kindness, Lu Jiuyuan would bring this pastry with him to the capital on each visit to present it as a gift. Thus, it came to be called "Taishi Cake" (Grand Tutor Cake). As the item became associated with the person, the Taishi Cake also came to be known as Shayang Taishi Cake in the region of Shayang, gaining widespread popularity that continues to this day.

　　The ingredients used to make Taishi Cake include: premium white flour, cooked lard or sesame oil, granulated sugar, osmanthus, orange cake, walnut kernels, and winter melon candy. The taste is fluffy, fragrant, soft, and not greasy—truly unique. It makes for an excellent gift for family and friends and was once awarded the title of “Number One Excellent Food in Hubei.”