Shuligao (Steamed Rice Cake)

Shuligao (also zhenr gao) is a traditional Tianjin steamed snack: ground-rice meal is steamed in a little copper mould, then spread with bean paste, sugar and haw.

The "pear" in its name has nothing to do with fruit — it is a pun on the Tianjin dialect word for "done." The method is old, recorded as far back as the Qing Jiaqing reign.

Steamed to order and eaten warm, it is soft and lightly sweet, a street snack long popular with Tianjin children.

The little copper steamer worked in front of you and the choice of toppings are what make shuligao such fun.