Longevity Peach Buns - A Birthday Tradition
Live a Long Life and a Sweet One Too
In past times, common birthday gifts for expressing longevity and wishes of good health included brandy, gold inscriptions of the Chinese character for longevity (shou), and a basket of “One-Hundred Peach Buns.” This was actually one large peach bun wrapped around a number of smaller buns, with additional buns as well as fruits and fish surrounding it. It was typical to include 12-18 smaller peach buns in the basket along with green leaves – all symbolic of longevity and good health.
Ingredients
- 9 ounces (266 grams) mantou dough
- 4 ounces (115 grams) sweet dough
Filling Ingredients
- 5 salted egg yolks, each split in half
- 6.5 ounces (188 grams) lotus seed paste (see the Lotus Seed Paste Buns page)
Adornments Ingredients
- a small amount of pink powder
- 1 tablespoon hot water
Cooking Directions
How to make the filling
- Separate the lotus seed paste into ten sections, placing each onto a salted egg yolk half. This is the filling mixture.
How to make the skins
- Thoroughly mix together the mantou dough and sweet dough, and separate into ten pieces, each weighing approximately 1 ⅓ ounces (38 grams). Press each piece of dough flat with the palm of the hand.
How to assemble peach buns
- Place filling on top of each flat dough piece. Enclose the filling by pinching the edges of the dough together at the top of the bun.
How to steam the buns
- Let the dough sit for 25-30 minutes to soften, then steam under high heat for five minutes.
- Remove the buns from the steamer, and press lines into each one while still warm. Return to the steamer for an additional ten minutes.
Final touches
- Mix together the pink powder and hot water. After removing the buns, use a brush to decorate the outer surface with this mixture.
- Tip: For best results when painting the buns, use strokes from the bottom of the bun to the top.
The Origin of Peach Buns as a Birthday Tradition
According to the legend, Sun Bin left home on his 18th birthday, traveling to Yunmeng Mountain to study the art of war under Guiguzi. After years away from home, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Sun Bin realized it was his mother’s 80th birthday. He asked Guiguzi for permission to return home and visit his mother. Guiguzi agreed, and gave his student a present for his mother – a peach that promised to give her a long life.
Upon returning home, Sun Bin gave his elderly mother the peach. Before she had even finished eating, and to the great surprise and joy of the whole family, she had suddenly regained many years of her youth. People around the village heard what had happened, and wanted the same gift of renewed life and health for their own aging parents. Thus, began the tradition of giving a fresh peach for one’s birthday, as a symbol for long life and good health in old age. During the winter months, when fresh peaches were out of season and not available, peach buns became a natural substitute.