Jin style mooncakes are a type of mooncake with a long history and unique flavor. Its origin can be traced back to the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1638), and it is one of the earliest mooncake making places in Chinese history. The following is a detailed introduction to Jin style mooncakes:
1、 Origin and History:
1. The origin of Jin style mooncakes dates back to the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1638), when they were created by three masters and disciples from a pastry shop in Taiyuan city, surnamed Guo, Du, and Lin.
2. By chance, they missed the time due to excessive drinking, causing the reconciled noodles to ferment and making it impossible to make traditional pastries. So, they took advantage of the strength of the wine, mixed raw noodles and added alkaline noodles, and made a new type of filling, called "Guo Du Lin" cake.
3. Due to its unique taste and flavor, this cake immediately gained popularity among the general public and even sparked a buying frenzy. Later, in memory of these three masters, people called this kind of cake "Guo Du Lin" cake.
2、 Characteristics and classification:
1. Jin style mooncakes are known for their unique taste and production process. They have ancient and simple properties, a simple and mellow taste, a crispy and refreshing taste, and are sweet but not greasy.
2. In terms of ingredients, Jin style mooncakes are mainly made of sesame oil, soybean oil, brown sugar, eggs, red beans, red dates, etc., which are processed through techniques such as filling, wooden mooncake molding, baking, and pot roasting.
3. There are various flavors and varieties of Jin style mooncakes, such as milk extraction, sugar mixing, rammed mooncakes, fine skin, Guo Du Lin, etc. Among them, Guo Du Lin mooncakes also contain various flavors such as rose, jujube paste, wuren, osmanthus, etc.
3、 Production skills:
1. The production technique of Jin style mooncakes is exquisite, requiring precise proportions and unique craftsmanship. The main ingredients include refined flour, cooked flour, fermented noodles, white sugar, sunflower oil, sesame oil, malt sugar, etc.
2. The production process includes steps such as kneading dough, making fillings, filling, molding, and baking. The dough should be kneaded evenly and thoroughly, and it is not advisable to use high heat when baking in the oven.
4、 Cultural values:
1. Jin style mooncakes are not only a food, but also a cultural heritage. The special technique of using noodles as filling is an outstanding representative of Jin cake craftsmanship, with a long and profound cultural value.
2. In 2008, Guo Dulin's Jin style mooncake making technique was selected for the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list in China, becoming a "national intangible cultural heritage protection project".
5、 Eating method:
Jin style mooncakes do not require oiling, and prepared mooncakes can be consumed immediately. This is one of the key points that sets Jin Yue apart from Guang Yue and Su Yue.
In a word, Jin style mooncakes have become one of the indispensable traditional foods for the Mid-Autumn Festival due to their unique production technology, rich taste and profound cultural connotation.
