Growing up in Medan where Chinese culture is pretty much intact, we always had traditional Chinese snacks at home and one of my most favorite was Sweetheart Cake – literal translation of Lou Pho Piang from Cantonese dialect.
This is a big round Chinese pastry with winter melon, almond paste, sesame, five spice powder (Chinese spice blend of fennel seed, star anise, licorice root and cloves) and pork lard. The pastry skin is flaky and thin – literally melts in your mouth.
There are many version of legend how this pastry has such an adorable name. Each one involves how a wife sacrificed her own freedom for the husband / family. Just how a good Chinese wife should be – selfless and put others before herself.
These days, this sweet pastry is used as part of traditional wedding snack party favors for family and friends. In Medan there are less than a handful of shops who still sell these – they are not that popular anymore. In Hongkong and China, these are everyday snacks.
I still enjoy them tremendously.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Lou Pho Piang – I thought that is more Cantonese than Hokkien. In Hokkien, I would think a literal translation would be Lau Bo Pniah.
They are still available here in Malaysia 
pablopabla’s last blog post..Soft Pork Cubes with Soy Sauce and Potatoes
This pastry is my childhood favourite! I also luv those Loh Bo Phiah (????sold in Hong Kong – best of all! Yummy!
lk’s last blog post..Beetroot soup
Pablo,
Yes you are right … I made changes accordingly. I think I have been speaking too much Hokkien lately.
LK,
Yeah I think the ones in Medan are definitely not as good as the ones in HK.
these look tasty – I will look for them in the market…
doggybloggy’s last blog post..say what?
Oh my lord, my mom absolutely LOVES these. My dad just loves buying them and going, “Lao po bing for my lao po… hehehe” while I roll my eyes and make retching noises. Thanks for bringing back such great memories… =D
I have not tried this before but heard a lot by watching the TVB movies *LOL*
mycookinghut’s last blog post..Apple Streusel Muffins
Just amazing to read your post… I will keep visiting your blog…
ramya’s last blog post..Butternut Squash soup with Green Chutney
Lou Pho Piang… what a awesome traditional biscuits. We loved it.
Alice’s last blog post..Simply Pizza
Wow those do look good! I’m totally curious to try one now though. I’ve never had winter melon in anything but soup.
Marc @ NoRecipes’s last blog post..Garlic chive shrimp fried rice with garlic chips
excellent photography! I always buy Lou Pho Piang as gifts for friends & family when I go HK, but I never buy any for myself… coz I dun have a sweet tooth, hehe
noobcook’s last blog post..Foil-Wrapped Ginseng Chicken
I love Lou Pho Piang, been a while since I last had some – but you just reminded me to run out and get some
Great pictures btw and great on you for going thesis
kang’s last blog post..Food bloggers do you want to increase your technorati backlinks?
DoggyBloggy,
It is very special.
Jesse,
Your parents must be a pretty great couple!
MyCookingHut,
Seriously? I think you are going to love it.
Ramya,
Thanks for dropping by
Alice,
My favorote as well
Marc,
It’s quite strange, winter melon wrapped in flaky pastry crust. But somehow … it works.
NoobCook,
It was just something simple. Felt like taking photos, and there they were – sitting on the pantry. I think they are not sweet enough … I got extremely sweet tooth!
Kang,
I think it’s the best Wordpress theme ever! Best $$$ I ever spent on blogsphere. It is so idiot-proof, eventhough I am too chicken to mess with the custom css. LOL
You did such great customization on your site
We called this Wife Biscuits (if you translate it directly) but I think Sweetheart Cake sounds better
I will bring lots of these each time I go back home.
Gertrude’s last blog post..Pecan Tarts
Gorgeous photos! Never had this but your photo makes me want some.
shavedicesundays’s last blog post..Bamboo Shoots with Ground Pork the Japanese Way
This is indeed nice to snack on. I would like to try making it juz for the fun of it….one day soon
elin’s last blog post..Apple Crisps
Thank you for sharing this lovely pastry and legend. We adopted our daughter from China 2 years ago and have been trying to incorporate the Chinese culture into our lives. This sweetheart cake would be fun to share with our daughter, who happens to be Cantonese. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Peppercorn Press’s last blog post..Cheese Makes a Comeback!
N0DfS3 Thanks for good post