Cloud slice cake is a popular traditional food, also known as snow slice cake. Its name comes from its thin slices and white color.
Its characteristic texture is moist and soft, like gelatin, which can be stored for a long time without becoming hard. It is suitable for all ages and everyone loves to eat it.
Yunpian cake has many raw materials and extremely fine craftsmanship.
The main raw materials include glutinous rice, sugar, lard, terminol, sesame, spices and more than ten kinds.
Every raw material must be selected from the best.
The production is very particular. The glutinous rice must be ground to remove the rice skin, leaving the rice core.
When frying glutinous rice flour, it usually needs to be stored for about half a year to remove its dryness.
The selection of soft white sugar and the slicing of the cake are also very demanding.
When frying, firstly, it must be cooked thoroughly and secondly, it must be kept white; the powder must be continuously sieved, and it must be as fine as flour; white sugar does not use crystal sugar, but uses "sugar" from Tutangliao, which has small grains, loose texture, and is instant.
Various raw materials are processed separately, then blended and mixed thoroughly, and then compressed and formed.
Finally, the slicing master holds a sharp square knife and cuts into slices as thin as book pages.
When you open a piece of cloud cake shaped like a small 16-karat book, you will be amazed by its snow-white cloud color and fragrant smell.
If you tear off a piece and put it into your mouth, it will melt like snowflakes, and when you chew it gently, you will be intoxicated by the sweetness and delicateness.
The most famous ones are the Yunpian cakes of "Wanyuanzhai" and "Xiangquanzhuang".
Their cloud cake can be rolled into a ring by peeling off a piece, and can be turned into flames by lighting a match.
So how does Yun Pian Cake come to be connected with the word Yun Pian?
It turns out that there is such a legend behind its name.
It is said that Emperor Qianlong went down to the south of the Yangtze River and came to Hexia Town, northwest of Huai'an Fucheng.
Hexia Town is close to the Grand Canal and is a place where wealthy salt merchants live.
Moreover, there are many private gardens with exquisite structures, which are famous all over the country.
When Qianlong's dragon boat arrived here, salt merchants picked it up one after another and invited the emperor to stay ashore for a few days.
As a result, Qianlong was welcomed into the garden of his home by a big salt merchant named Wang.
This afternoon, it was snowing heavily.
Qianlong admired the snow from the window in the warm hall of Wang's garden.
He has always liked to show off his literary talent.
When enjoying the snow, it is inevitable to recite a poem or two.
Therefore, he hummed and began to compose the poem "Snow Scenery".
"One piece after another, three pieces, four pieces, five or six pieces, seven pieces, eight pieces, ninety pieces..." There were just pieces in my mouth, but I couldn't continue the fourth sentence.
He looked worried at the flying goose feathers and snow outside the window, and was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead.
This poem only has four sentences, and it would be really disappointing if it could not be completed!
At this moment, Wang Salt Merchant came to kneel down and offer tea with a fine flower agate plate.
Qianlong took a look and realized what he wanted. He took advantage of the break to have tea and covered up his embarrassment.
Qianlong's eyes at this time were all attracted by the same tiny dots on the two agate plates.
This is a small plate of small rectangular cubes, all cut into thin slices. The crystal is white and attractive.
Qianlong forgot to use chopsticks, so he picked up two slices. When he tasted them, they were sweet, soft, fresh and delicious. He immediately praised them: "How could it be so good? It's so delicious!" He praised and ate each slice.
.
In the blink of an eye, Shifu had eaten more than ten slices, and then he raised his head and asked Wang Yanshang: "What is the name of this thing? Is it available in the market?" Wang Yanshang replied: "This is a pastry passed down from Xiaochen's family.
There is no place for sale. Since the emperor appreciates it, I am brave enough to ask for a good name." Qianlong asked one by one what ingredients the cakes were made of.
Wang Salt Merchant boasted more and more, and his words were astounding.
Qianlong believed it and was dumbfounded.
Qianlong agreed to give Wang Yan's merchant the pastry an elegant name.
He thought for a while and suddenly remembered the poem he had not finished reciting. He couldn't help but slap the table and exclaimed: "Wow! Isn't the color and shape of this pastry just like the snow flakes flying outside? From Yi Lian's point of view, it's like giving
Let's call it 'Snowflake Cake'!" Wang Yanshang kowtowed sincerely and thanked him. Then he brought the four treasures of the study and asked Qianlong to write an inscription.
Unexpectedly, Qianlong was so happy that he wrote carelessly and mistakenly wrote "snow slice cake" as "cloud slice cake" on the gold paper. Since it was the emperor's royal pen, he could not correct it casually.
Later, the name "Yunpian Cake" was used in pastry shops.