Artemisia Leaf Cakes

Last updated 2026-11-12 — Artemisia Leaf Cakes 　　The artemisia leaf cakes of western Hunan are different from those elsewhere. In other regions, artemisia is used as a seasoning, but in western Hunan, it is the main ingredient. Various types of artemisia—such as square-stem artemisia, mugwort, bitter artemisia, and wild crown daisy—are mixed together. Using a secret recipe unique to western Hunan, these are made into the region’s distinctive artemisia leaf cakes. Legend has it that the practice of placing spells (known as "gu") in western Hunan originally began with these artemisia leaf cakes.