Yun Dou Juan

Yun Dou Juan is one of the most traditional snacks in Beijing and one of the Empress Dowager Cixi’s favorite desserts as well. French Bean Rolls, also known as Kidney Bean Rolls was at first a snack over civilians and later was introduced to the Palace.
The main ingredient of Yun Dou Juan is kidney bean and sweetened bean paste. With white appearance and soft, sweet flavor, Yun Dou Juan receives a great popularity among the public. Kidney bean is a kind of food containing high nourishment value and health functions, especially for patients with heart disease, hyperlipidemia and so on.
There is an interesting story behind this snack. It is said that one day the Empress Dowager Cixi was having a rest in the royal garden, and suddenly heard gong striking from the street. Cixi wondered what was this sound, and servants answered that it was the vendor selling Yun Dou Juan. Cixi asked the vendor to came in and wanted to have a taste of his products. After eating, CIxi praised it and let the vendor stay in the palace, exclusively making Yun Dou Juan for her.
You can find Yun Dou Juan in many shops and restaurants in Beijing, and among them Tingliguan Restaurant’s Yun Dou Juan has been enlisted as Thirteen Best Snacks of Old Beijing.