Goubuli Baozi | (狗不理包子) a beloved Chinese culinary treasure with a rich history and heritage.

Tianjin Goubuli Baozi (狗不理包子), often simply referred to as Goubuli Buns, are a beloved Chinese culinary treasure with a rich history dating back over 160 years. These savory steamed buns have become a symbol of Tianjin's gastronomic culture and are celebrated for their unique taste, meticulous craftsmanship, and enduring popularity.
Goubuli buns were first invented in 1858 (清咸豐年間) by Gao Guiyou (高貴友) in Tianjin, China. Born in Yangcun, Wuqing County (武清縣楊村), Hebei Province (河北省), now Wuqing District (武清區), Tianjin (天津市). When he was born, his father wishing he can be kept as easy as a “puppy dog”, so he used that as his nickname (Gouzi). According to northern customs, the name is full of simple, loving kinship. Gouzi (狗子) came to Tianjin to study art at the age of fourteen. When he was a child, he worked in Liu's steam restaurant by the South Canal in Tianjin. Keep improving, practice skills, and become famous as soon as possible. Three years after graduation, Gao Guiyou (高貴友) has mastered the techniques of making various steamed stuffed buns, so he independently opened a snack restaurant specializing in steamed stuffed buns, called "Dejuhao".
The name "Goubuli" translates as "dog ignores" in English, implying that this little dog (Gouzi 狗子) was always focused on his food and never responded, showing his single-minded focus on his craft. This dedication laid the foundation for the now-famous Goubuli buns. Due to Gao Guiyou's good craftsmanship, seriousness in doing these buns, and never adulterated, the buns he made are soft in taste, fresh and not greasy, and shaped like chrysanthemums. Very prosperous, fame soon sounded. As more and more people came to eat his buns, Gao Guiyou was too busy to talk to customers. As a result, people who ate buns jokingly called him "Gouzi (狗子) sells buns and ignores people." Over time, people called him "Goubuli", and the buns he managed were called "Goubuli buns"!
Goubuli buns are famous for their delicious taste. It is said that when Yuan Shikai (袁世凱) served as the governor of Zhili (直隸), he went to Tianjin to train the new army, he brought "Goubuli" buns to Beijing to pay tribute to the Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后). The Empress Dowager Cixi was overjoyed after tasting it, and said: "Beasts walking in the mountains, wild geese in the clouds, cattle and sheep on land, and seafood at sea are not as fragrant as Goubuli and can prolong life If you eat them. Since then, Goubuli Steamed Bun has become famous and has gradually opened many branches.
These buns are characterized by their small size, thin skin, and plump, savory fillings, typically made from a mixture of minced pork and various seasonings. Over the years, Goubuli has become a celebrated brand, expanding across China and internationally, these iconic steamed buns are cherished by people across the country and can be found in many major cities in China, making them a beloved culinary delight that extends far beyond Tianjin's borders.
The dough for the buns is prepared with precision, ensuring its softness and consistency. The dough is then rolled out into small circles and filled with the flavorful pork mixture. The most critical part of the process is the intricate pleating technique used to seal the bun. Each bun is meticulously folded into eighteen distinct pleats, a trademark characteristic that distinguishes Goubuli Buns from other steamed buns.
Once assembled, the buns are placed in bamboo steamers and steamed to perfection, allowing the flavors to meld together harmoniously. The result is a mouthwatering combination of soft, fluffy buns and succulent, well-seasoned pork filling. Goubuli Buns are renowned for their exquisite texture and the explosion of flavor that greets your taste buds with every bite. Goubuli steamed stuffed bun is a treasure in Chinese food culture and is recommended as the first of the famous "Tianjin Three Musts" delicacies. After more than 160 years of development, Goubuli steamed buns have been continuously innovated and improved, forming innovative varieties such as pork buns, three fresh buns, meat skin buns, seafood buns, wild vegetable buns, and whole crab buns.
Many delicacies that people pursue are descendants of the "country flavor" of life. People try to see the stories that happened in the past from the taste that has been passed down for hundreds of years, as well as the warm emotion and unpretentious original taste. Unfortunately, after more than a hundred years of changes, with the changes of the times, the taste is gradually different from the past and only stories left.
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