When you wander in Shanghai, shuttling between the European-style buildings on the Bund, the antique charm of Yuyuan Garden and the skyscrapers in Lujiazui, besides these iconic landscapes, you must not miss the intangible cultural heritage delicacy hidden in the downtown area – Gaoqiao Muffin. This small pastry born in Gaoqiao Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, inherits a century-old craftsmanship and carries the warmth of old Shanghai’s daily life. It is an excellent entry point for foreign visitors to understand the taste of Shanghai and a high-quality souvenir to take away the memories of Shanghai.
The history of Gaoqiao Muffin can be traced back to the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, with a heritage of more than 100 years. In 2007, its production craftsmanship was included in the first batch of Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Projects and Protection Units, becoming an important business card of Shanghai’s food Culture. According to legend, at that time, the wife of Zhao Xiaoqi in Gaoqiao Town was good at making “collapsed cakes”. She carried the small, crisp collapsed cakes in a basket to sell, which were deeply loved by diners because of their excellent taste, so they were named “Gaoqiao Muffin”. Later, Zhang Jinzhang, a businessman in Gaoqiao, opened a food company and innovated the production process, bringing this small town pastry into the bustling streets of Shanghai and making it a well-known delicacy.
As an intangible cultural heritage delicacy, the essence of Gaoqiao Muffin lies in its strict manual craftsmanship and carefully selected raw materials. Every bite of crispness embodies the persistence of craftsmen. Making muffins requires 12 complex processes: kneading dough, proofing dough, making blanks, mixing shortcrust pastry, rubbing shortcrust pastry, wrapping shortcrust pastry, making fillings, rolling out shortcrust pastry, rolling dough, spreading fillings, stamping and baking. Among them, the most critical link of rolling out shortcrust pastry cannot be replaced by machines so far, relying entirely on the craftsman’s experience to control the strength and rhythm. The crust of the muffin is cleverly combined with water-based dough and shortcrust pastry. After repeated rolling, it can form 36 layers of crust as thin as cicada wings, which will crumble when touched gently.
The selection of raw materials is even more elaborate, showing the delicacy of Jiangnan flavor. The crust is made of refined flour and cooked lard, with a mellow aroma; the fillings are mainly red bean paste made from Chongming adzuki beans, matched with jujube paste made from Hebei golden silk jujubes, or flavors such as mixed fruits and sesame. Each kind of filling needs to be stir-fried slowly over low heat to remove excess water, achieving a sweet but not cloying, dense and moist taste. Among them, the red bean paste filling must reach the perfect state of “being able to form a ball when held and scattered when touched”. In addition, the ornament of sweet osmanthus is the finishing touch, adding a layer of sweetness to the aroma of the muffin, with a long aftertaste after tasting.
For foreign visitors who want to taste the most authentic Gaoqiao Muffin, the first choice is Gaoqiao Old Street. Here, you can not only eat freshly baked pastries, but also immerse yourself in the inheritance atmosphere of muffins. Zhou Ji Gaoqiao Muffin Workshop (No. 4 Gaoqiao West Street, Pudong New Area) in the old street is a well-known time-honored brand in the local area. The shop retains the traditional manual production process. You can witness the whole process of craftsmen making muffins with your own eyes, watching the dough turn into round, red-stamped blanks in their hands, and then baked into golden and attractive shapes in the oven. The freshly baked muffin is like a full moon, with a slightly yellow and oily surface and milky white around. Taking a bite, the outer crust is crisp and melts in the mouth, the inner filling is dense and delicate, not greasy, and the sweet aroma spreads slowly on the tip of the tongue. Matching with a cup of warm green Tea can not only relieve greasiness, but also highlight the original taste of the muffin.
In addition to Zhou Ji Workshop, you can also buy authentic muffins at the branch of Gaoqiao food Factory at the intersection of Huaihai Middle Road and Ruijin Road. It is conveniently located, suitable for purchasing on the way after visiting the scenic spots in the city center. When purchasing, you can choose the traditional paper bag, which retains the crisp taste of the muffin and can be stored at room temperature for 7 days, easy to carry; if you want to keep it for a long time or give it as a souvenir, you can also choose the exquisite gift box. The gift box is simple and elegant in design, printed with the history and craftsmanship of Gaoqiao Muffin, which is both practical and commemorative.
The transportation to Gaoqiao Old Street is also very convenient. Foreign visitors can take Metro Line 6 to Waigaoqiao Station and transfer to the bus to “Gaoqiao Old Street” Station; if you choose to drive, you can navigate to “Gaoqiao Old Street Parking Lot”, which is convenient for parking and affordable (10 yuan/day). After visiting the old street and tasting the muffins, you can also go to the surrounding Gaoqiao History and Culture Exhibition Hall to understand the 100-year changes of Gaoqiao Town, or walk on the bluestone roads of the old street, appreciate the ancient architectural style of the Jiangnan water town, and feel the warmth of daily life away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Here are some practical tips for you: first, the best time to eat the muffin is 1-2 hours after it is baked. At this time, the crust is the crispest and the filling is the freshest. Try to avoid refrigerating it, otherwise it will make the crust soft and affect the taste; second, when buying it as a souvenir, it is recommended to choose freshly made products and inform the store of the shelf life to facilitate giving it to relatives and friends; third, in addition to the traditional flavors, some stores have also launched innovative flavors such as cloud ham and tiramisu. You may wish to try boldly and feel the unique taste of the collision between tradition and modernity.
Gaoqiao Muffin is not only a delicious pastry, but also a carrier of Shanghai’s history and Culture. It has witnessed the rise and fall of Gaoqiao Town, carried the childhood memories of old Shanghai people, and conveyed the ingenuity and warmth of Jiangnan food to every foreign visitor. When you feel tired during your trip in Shanghai, you may wish to stop, taste a Gaoqiao Muffin, let the crispness drive away the fatigue and leave a sweet memory belonging to Shanghai; when you leave, take a few boxes of muffins and share the taste and warmth of old Shanghai with relatives and friends far away.
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