Aiwowo: A Traditional Beijing Snack

Aiwowo (艾窝窝) is a traditional Beijing snack made from glutinous rice. It is known for its soft, chewy texture, sweet filling, and distinctive white, round appearance. Traditionally, Aiwowo was a seasonal snack sold around the Chinese New Year period and through late summer and early autumn. Today, it is available throughout the year.

How Aiwowo Is Made

To make traditional Aiwowo, glutinous rice is first washed and soaked in water. It is then steamed until fully cooked and allowed to cool. The cooked rice is kneaded until it becomes smooth and cohesive, then divided into small portions and pressed into thin, round wrappers.

The filling is traditionally made from a mixture of peach kernels, sesame seeds, melon seeds, candied green plums, hawthorn cake, and white sugar. The filling is placed inside the glutinous rice wrapper, which is then folded and shaped into a small round ball. This basic method is documented in descriptions of the snack from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty.

The finished Aiwowo is usually white, round, soft, and slightly sticky, with a sweet and fragrant filling. Unlike tangyuan, which are generally boiled before eating, traditional Aiwowo can be eaten directly after it has been prepared.

A Snack with a Long History

Historical records from the Ming Dynasty describe a similar glutinous-rice snack called Wowo, which was related to an earlier food known as Buluojia. According to a traditional explanation, the name later evolved into “Aiwowo” after the snack became popular with the imperial household. This story is widely associated with the traditional history of the snack, although it should be regarded as a traditional account rather than an established historical fact.

Aiwowo is also regarded as a traditional Beijing Muslim-style snack, reflecting the influence of the city’s diverse culinary traditions.

Chinese name: 爱窝窝 / 艾窝窝
English name: Aiwowo
Type: Traditional Beijing snack
Main ingredient: Glutinous rice
Flavor: Sweet and fragrant
Texture: Soft, chewy, and slightly sticky