Taiyuan Kaolaolao

Taiyuan Kaolaolao, one of the top 10 flour-based dishes in Taiyuan — the capital city of North China's Shanxi Province — is a traditional home-cooked delicacy popular in the north-central part of the province.

Nowadays, it has become a popular grain-based snack in local restaurants across the region.

Kaolaolao is made from oat flour and gets its name from its distinctive round, basket-like shape. The term “kaolao” refers to a type of bucket traditionally used by farmers for fetching water or for packing, typically made from bamboo strips or willow twigs.

The oat flour dough is kneaded and molded into thin, tubular shapes on a board, each piece several inches long and light yellow in color. The pieces are then neatly arranged side by side in a steamer. When served, Kaolaolao is often dipped in mutton or mushroom soup, or in a sour and spicy sauce, and is especially delicious when freshly steamed.