中国ちゅうごく伝統でんとう焼餅シャオビン、世界せかいのパンランキングで再ふたたび高評価こうひょうか——食文化しょくぶんかに息いきづく千年せんねんの味あじ

In the recently announced “World’s 50 Best Breads” ranking by CNN in the United States, the traditional Chinese bread “Shaobing” has once again been selected this year.

The fact that Shaobing is highly regarded alongside breads representing various countries, such as Japan’s curry bread, Korea’s Gyeran-ppang, Germany’s pumpernickel, and France’s baguette, demonstrates the diversity and depth of Chinese food culture.

CNN introduces Shaobing as a bread with a long history that has been passed down to the present day.

Xiaobin is carefully made using basic ingredients such as flour, water, and salt, following traditional methods.

Sesame seeds are sprinkled on the surface, giving it a crispy texture. Meanwhile, the inside is soft and filled with a rich wheat flavor. At the same time, CNN has described it as “a representative dish deeply rooted in Chinese life.”

Grilled rice cakes have a history of over a thousand years, originating from the oldest hubing and evolving into steamed cakes and crispy cakes, yet they still retain the simplicity of everyday life.

These sweets are not just food; they are also filled with the memories and recollections of the Chinese people.

Traditional cuisine in Beijing involves enjoying soy sauce-marinated meat sandwiched in shaobing, together with a fermented drink made from mung beans called douzhier, with the flavors being passed down through generations.

There is also a type of shaobing in the Huangshan region called Xie Ke Huang, which is shaped like a crab. According to legend, Huizhou merchants who were stationed in Anhui Province used to eat this bread when traveling far from home, as it reminded them of their hometown.

In this way, shaobing is not just food, but a place where the diverse emotions and culture of the Chinese people come together, and it has been passed down at the dining table for generations.

Following the announcement of the Worlds 50 Best Breads in February 2024, the continued selection of Shaobing demonstrates not only the universal appeal of traditional Chinese bread, but also its high international recognition.

Surely, when people around the world taste shaobing, they will sense the vibrant flavor deeply rooted in the lives of the Chinese people.