Red Bean Paste Cake

Red Bean Paste Cake

　　Red Bean Paste Cake was first created in the late Qing Dynasty and is made from peas, gardenia, and dried persimmons. Legend has it that after the Taiping Rebellion forces captured Jiyuan in Henan, they recruited local young men to join their army. Leading troops northward, they took over cities such as Jincheng and Changzhi, then continued advancing toward southern Shanxi. When the army was stationed in Quwo, some injured soldiers from Jiyuan, seeing the fertile land and beautiful scenery of Quwo along with its bustling markets, decided not to return home but to settle in Quwo. To make a living, they started selling Red Bean Paste Cake. By the time of the Republic of China, Red Bean Paste Cake street stalls were everywhere, becoming a distinctive local snack. A popular saying among vendors was: “Come to Quwo County, stay near East Gate, carry a simple stall, earn money selling red bean.” Selling Red Bean Paste Cake required no fixed location or shop, used easily obtainable ingredients, and operated on thin profit margins with high sales volume. (Yuncheng)