Traditional Taizhou pastry gains global attention

Wenyou Cake, owned by Cao Wenjun, sells traditional Taizhou pastries. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

A recent TikTok video has put Taizhou traditional pastry into the global spotlight, capturing widespread admiration and engagement.

In the video, young pastry maker Cao Wenjun, dressed in traditional attire, is seen inside a beautifully decorated, antique-style Taizhou residence in Shisheng Street, Hailing district. With rhythmic precision, he taps a wooden mallet against a mold, shaping the rice cake inside. As the steaming process begins, wisps of vapor rise, unveiling a perfectly crafted, delicate pastry.

Cao, a native of Xinghua, a county-level city in Taizhou, rediscovered his passion for pastry-making by chance. The nostalgic flavors of his childhood inspired him to return home and start his own business. Determined to master the craft, he spent two years honing traditional techniques. 

Cao insists on using only the finest ingredients to ensure freshness and quality. He follows time-honored methods—grinding rice, sifting flour, preparing fillings, and steaming while at the same time innovating to suit modern tastes by adjusting sweetness levels and refining the texture to create a lighter, more enjoyable experience. 

The shop and its products. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

His shop, Wenyou Cake, is designed with traditional elements such as palace lanterns, immersing visitors in Taizhou's rich cultural heritage. Cao is confident about the future. "I plan to open branches in other scenic areas and popular commercial districts in Taizhou, making it easier for tourists and locals to enjoy Wenyou Cake. I also want to develop a line of gift pastries, so more people can remember the taste of Taizhou and fall in love with this city."

According to Li Jin, a cultural advisor at the Taizhou Cultural Tourism Group, Taizhou was once home to numerous time-honored pastry brands, carrying the memories of generations.