Bun bao

Bao means “bun”, so the name bao bun is redundant, and bao in the Chinese language without any qualifiers is generally used to refer to baozi. The gua bao originated from the bun bao regions of Fujian province in China. It is said to have come from either the cities of Quanzhou or Fuzhou. The custom of Hui’an people in Quanzhou is to eat these pork belly buns to celebrate the marrying off of a daughter.

In Taiwan, gua bao were reputed to be introduced to the island by Fuzhounese immigrants. Fuzhou rice vinasse meat is wrapped in it, and ingredients are chopped and soaked in meat gravy to eat. Taiwanese Hokkien due to the mouth-like form of the bun and the contents of the filling. Gua bao was a food that merchants had on ritual festivals in Taiwan under Japanese rule. In the Philippines, it is served in Chinese Filipino restaurants throughout the country, where it is more popularly known as cuapao. In Japan they are called kakuni manju and are sold as a Chinese snack food. United Kingdom, Erchen Chang, Wai Ting and Shing Tat Chung opened BAO in London, further popularizing the snack in the West.

There have been many new trendy “gua bao” which incorporate pan-Asian fusion or non-Chinese fillings between the lotus leaf buns, such as kimchi or karaage. Who Took the “Gua” out of “Bao”. The Food of Taiwan: Recipes from the Beautiful Island. A Street Food Goes International: Taiwan’s Gua Bao”. A Street Food Goes International Taiwan’s Gua Bao”.

Love of pork belly and buns”. LASA: A Guide to 100 Restaurants. Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer, Philippines. Intellectual Property Office, Department of Trade and Industry. College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines. A Guide to Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown: Enjoy Local Specialties as You Walk! The first Chinese style temple in Nagasaki”.