Dark Russian Rye Bread

Dark Russian Rye Bread

　　Qiulin Dark Russian Rye is a type of large Russian bread originally made and sold by Harbin’s Qiulin Department Store. Commonly known as “Dark Russian Rye” (the word “Lieba” is a transliteration of the Russian word for bread), each loaf is nearly as big as a modern household steamer. Because Harbin is the only place in China that still has the traditional bakers and facilities to authentically bake this kind of Russian bread, it has become a local specialty. In rural Russia, villages typically had only one communal bread oven, and families would regularly bake a batch of bread there, storing the rest at home to eat later. As a result, the bread was made very large and sliced as needed. Owing to its long history, traditional techniques for making large loaves have been developed. The large rye bread has a richer aroma than smaller ones, a slightly tangy taste, a firmer texture, stores well, and offers a unique flavor.

　　When you first see “Dark Russian Rye,” you’ll be amazed by the sheer size of the loaf. The writer Qin Mu once likened it to “a bread as big as a pot lid” when he visited Harbin—this is the Qiulin Dark Russian Rye, which carries over a century of tradition. For visitors to Harbin looking to buy some local specialties, aside from Harbin red sausage, the Qiulin-produced “Dark Russian Rye” is highly recommended. It’s the most distinctive local product in Harbin and is hailed as an exceptional taste of the city’s culinary heritage.