Fènglísū

Description

Fènglísū are Taiwanese pineapple cakes, one of the country's most popular desserts and souvenirs. The cakes consist of a buttery, crumbly crust that is filled with a tangy, slightly sweet pineapple jam. The name of the dish is derived from fèng lí , meaning pineapple , and sū , meaning shortcake . Originally, they were prepared during the period of China's Three Kingdoms Dynasty. The three kingdoms were separated into Wei, Shu, and Wu kingdoms, and the emperor of Shu wanted to marry a sister of Wu's emperor, so he sent a large pineapple cake as a gift. Today, the cakes are much smaller and are one of the best-selling souvenirs in Taiwan. It is recommended to serve the cake warm, preferably with a cup of hot tea on the side.