Wuzhen Gusao Cake

Gusao cake is a teatime pastry unique to Wuzhen, made of wheat flour mixed with black sesame, sugar and a touch of spiced salt, then baked. Shaped like small chess pieces and pale gold in colour, it is crisp on the tongue, woven of sweet and savoury, rich with sesame aroma.

Legend tells of a Wuzhen cake shop whose secret recipe passed only to the daughter-in-law; the jealous younger sister-in-law one day sneaked a pinch of spiced salt into the dough, and the baked cakes turned out sweet yet savoury and altogether finer. Pressed for the reason, both women claimed the credit, and the pastry was named "gusao"—sister- and sister-in-law—becoming a teatime treat for guests in the water towns.

It is most authentic beside a cup of clear tea, one cake to a sip, crisp and melting, a constant at Wuzhen teatime when hosts receive guests or chat, and a fine favour to carry when visiting friends.

Its small chess-piece shape, the sweet-and-savoury spiced-salt flavour and the folk tale of the two women behind it make Gusao cake distinctive.