Nixi Sesame Fragrance Cake

Nixi Sesame Fragrance Cake

　　During the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, a wandering monk arrived at “Chuansheng Palace” in Nixi Town, Yibin County, where he preached Buddhism and used locally abundant ingredients to craft a variety of distinctive, exquisitely crafted Buddhist pastries to offer before the Buddha statues. The “Sesame Cake” was one of them. The wandering monk passed on the recipe, and the sesame cake has been preserved ever since.

　　　By the time of the Republic of China, the ancient town of Nixi by the Min River had become a key hub for both land and water transport, connecting Leshan to the west and Yibin to the east. Merchants gathered in large numbers, and the market thrived. In 1904, the great-grandfather of Liao Caihua established the Yixiangzhai Liaoji Confectionery and Pastry Shop on an old street known as “Dingziguaicorner.” The shop mainly produced and sold sesame fragrance cakes. From then on, everyone in the town, young and old, knew about the sesame cake, and merchants traveling from near and far often bought the sesame fragrance cake to give as gifts to family and friends. Over time, Nixi Sesame Fragrance Cake became widely renowned for its rich, unique aroma, soft and delicious texture, and sweet yet not cloying taste. It grew into a notable local specialty.

　　 Freshly made white sesame cake has a snow-white surface. When you take a bite, its soft texture, sweet taste without being greasy, and strong sesame fragrance are accompanied by a faint hint of traditional Chinese medicine.

　　　　Why does the sesame fragrance cake have a subtle hint of Chinese herbal flavor? Liao Caihua explains with a smile: “The production process of sesame fragrance cakes sold on the market is largely similar, using mainly ingredients such as glutinous rice, sesame, and white sugar. The key lies in the special traditional seasoning we add to our sesame fragrance cake. This seasoning is made by roasting and grinding over ten kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs, including cinnamon and fragrant pine, into a powder to create its aroma. This tradition has been passed down for over 100 years. Eating cakes with this specially blended herbal mix also has the benefits of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach, making it suitable for all ages.”

　　　　Today, Yixiangzhai continues to uphold traditional craftsmanship while emphasizing green and healthy principles. In addition to the classic sesame fragrance cake, the shop has introduced a variety of other flavors to meet different tastes. These include low-sugar sesame fragrance cake, low-sugar black sesame fragrance cake, walnut fragrance cake, mung bean fragrance cake, peanut fragrance cake, honey-orange fragrance cake, rose fragrance cake, and bitter buckwheat fragrance cake. These products have gained increasing popularity among consumers.