Qiulin Russian Black Bread

Last updated 2026-10-14 — Qiulin's large bread is actually a typical Russian-style loaf, commonly known as "da lie ba" (big black bread). The bread is almost as big as a modern household steamer. Since only Harbin in China has the authentic tradition of baking Russian bread, along with the skilled bakers and facilities to do so, it has become a local specialty. In the rural areas of Russia, there is usually only one communal oven per village, where families take turns baking their bread in batches. On a daily basis, they eat bread stored at home, which is why the loaves are made very large and sliced as needed. Due to its long history, traditional techniques for making these large loaves have been developed. The large bread has a richer aroma than smaller ones, keeps well, and offers a unique flavor.