Review:
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Chinese name: 南翔小笼包 (nán xiáng xiǎo lóng bāo); 南翔小笼馒头 (nán xiáng xiǎo lóng mán tou)
This snack is a famous and popular one originating from Nanxiang Town in the northern Jiading District of Shanghai. Dating back over 100 years, Nanxiang Steamed Stuffed Bun features the typical Shanghai flavor. It is famous for its thin wrap, big stuffing, strong flavor and tender meat.
Besides the use of refined flour and pork, Nanxiang Steamed Stuffed Bun has many special ingredients. Water, salt, sugar, soy, sesame, and ginger are added to make the stuffing. Even without MSG, shallot or garlic, the buns stay fresh with a delicious flavor. The main pork stuffing is mixed with various seasonal ingredients: bamboo shoot for spring, shrimp for summer and crab for autumn. It's hard to believe that the stuffing is two times larger than the wrap. Miraculous, isn't it?
The prepared buns with translucent thin wraps are as small as water chestnuts. The appealing appearance of the buns may make you feel hungry. However, if you are hasty you will probably be hurt by the hot buns. Here are tips for tasting this snack: bite carefully, sip the soup, and dip into special Zhenjiang vinegar. 'Wow, yummy!' is then an understandable reaction.
The Hong Kong film Leaving Me Loving You, featuring Hong Kong pop stars Leon Lai and Faye Wong, made this snack known to a wider audience.
It is a traditional snack food in a suburban town, Nanxiang of Shanghai. There are two famous Xiaolongbao shops in the city. One is Nanxiang Mantou (in YU Garden Shopping Street; mantou means steamed bun), the other one is Guqiyuan Snack (near Yan’an crossing of Tibet Road). The great characteristics of Nanxiang xiaolongbao are thin--wrapped and pulpy, the fillings are unsalted. If you nibble at it, the toothsome fillings will bring you a mouthful aroma and give you a special feel. When eating this kind of bun you'd better dip the buns into the shredded ginger sauce with the seasoned vinegar (this sauce is characteristic of areas south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), a good aftertaste will always persisting in your mouth.
Recommended places to try this snack:
Shanghai Guyiyuan Restaurant: No.238, Guyiyuan Road, Nanxiang Town, Jiading District
Nanxiang Mantou Restaurant: No. 85, Yuyuan Road, Huangpu District
Specialties: Nanxiang Steamed Stuffed Bun.