Anlong Sīwáwa

Anlong Sīwáwa

　　Anlong Sīwáwa is a specialty of Anlong County in Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. The name “Sīwáwa” comes from the way a small, thin pancake is wrapped around many “shreds” of ingredients, and it is also known as a vegetarian spring roll. Crisp, cool, tangy, spicy — the flavors are incredibly enticing.

　　Anlong County’s Sīwáwa: Sīwáwa originated in the 1970s and is one of the most common street snacks in Guizhou. It consists of various vegetables wrapped in a thin rice pancake as delicate as paper and about the size of a palm. Its shape resembles a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, hence the name “Sīwáwa” (which literally means “wrapped baby”). However, when it comes to Anlong’s version of Sīwáwa, it’s truly unique. While retaining its traditional preparation method, it also incorporates some original twists. The making of Sīwáwa is a delicate process — aside from crafting the thin, pancake-like rounds from rice flour, the fillings are carefully arranged on small serving plates. The accompanying soup, in particular, is specially prepared with a mix of soy sauce, vinegar, MSG, sesame oil, minced ginger, chopped scallions, and roasted chili flakes, resulting in a distinctive flavor that is both aromatic and appetizing.

　　Sīwáwa is inexpensive, with crisp, tender vegetables offering a tangy and spicy kick that stimulates the appetite and benefits digestion. As a result, although there are only two or three Sīwáwa stalls on Anlong’s snack street, every evening they are packed with customers. People gather around tables, savoring this unique delicacy of Longcheng (Dragon City) under the cozy and pleasant night sky.