Their yellow millet-sized flowers are collected for osmanthus syrup or to add flavor to food.
Corresponding seasonal treats include osmanthus rice cakes and osmanthus wine. Due to the perishable nature of the flower, they are only available for a couple of weeks a year.
Over time, osmanthus rice cake is definitely the most popular. It's simple to prepare as it's made with glutinous rice, sugar and dried osmanthus flowers.
Dried petals are sprinkled on it or mixed with flour and sugar to make the cakes sweeter with mellow smell.
The cakes have long been associated with good luck and people sample them praying for a good life and fortune.
They can be found at roadside stalls or big restaurants.
Where to eat:
• Linglong Town
Address: 77 Xueshi Rd
Tel: (0571) 8797-9913
• Yingshang Restaurant
Address: No. 228, Siyanjing
Tel: (0571) 8609-3676
Mooncake stuffed with pork and pickled mustard stem
While people around China eat all kinds of sweet mooncakes, Hangzhou residents are among those who queue up for a saltier variety of the traditional treat made with ingredients not usually found in desserts: minced pork and pickled mustard stem, or zhacai.
Though the Mid-Autumn Festival passed, this Hangzhou-style mooncake is still sold in the market. Oven-fresh flaky mooncakes are an all-time favorite of some foodies.
It is best enjoyed when it is still hot with the aroma of pork and preserved zhacai, which goes well together.
During the National Day vacation, foodies lined up in front of famous local mooncake brands, including Jiuzhizhai and September Life. When the weather turns cold, baking mooncakes will cease because they taste less desirable if eating them cold. Therefore, autumn is the best time to have a bite of this snack.
Before the mid-1990s, most Hangzhou pastries were sweet, but Jiuzhizhai created savory varieties, adding pickled vegetables and spiced salt, which found favor with Hangzhou locals. Its reasonable price and delicious taste attract long queues, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Where to eat:
• Jiuzhizhai
Address: 109 Jiefang Rd
Tel: (0571) 8704-0149
• September Life
Address: 163 Zhaohui Rd
Tel: (0571) 8546-4780
