Bamboo Butterfly

One of my favorite things to eat in Taiwan is bāozi or bao.  These tasty steamed buns are filled with all sorts of treats ranging from custard to chicken/pork to vegetables.  Bao come in large and small sizes.  You can’t eat just one so don’t even try!

Where to find Bao?

Bao are quite popular and can be found almost anywhere in Taiwan.  Get them from street vendors, in day and night markets, or the local Family Mart and 7-Eleven.  Nothing beats a piping hot bao on a cold rainy day (or after a night out with friends!)

The story behind Bao

Legend has it that baozi dates back almost 1,800 years.  Once upon a time there was a military strategist named Zhuge Liang.  As he traveled on an expedition to South China, a plague struck his army.  In an effort to appease whatever deity he believed brought down the curse upon them, he created a human head made out of flour, pork, and beef to offer as a sacrifice.  He then created more to use as food to help cure the ailing soldiers.

Types of Bao

Bao can be filled with a variety of ingredients.  Some of the more popular fillings include:

• chicken/BBQ chicken
• pork
• bean paste/red bean
• custard
• pickled, spicy vegetables
• black sesame paste
• seafood
• curried/Thai meats

Bao around the world

Bao are not just popular in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong.  In Malaysia, the Malays have adopted these buns as their own. A Malaysian baozi is sometimes filled with potato, chicken, or beef curry and a quail egg in the center.  Baozi are also becoming popular in the United States.  In Chicago, a chain restaurant catering to those seeking bao has sprung up at several locations.  Wow Bao is drawing in crowds. One of the most popular locations can be found at The Water Tower Place, where people stand in a long line waiting for their baozi.

How are bao made?

There are many recipes on the internet teaching how to make bao.  If you’d like to try,  check out the video below.  Substitute the cook’s ingredients with whatever you’d like!