The story of the metamorphosis of these delicious pastry parcels begins its journey in China – Central Asia – South Caucasus - Europe.
Parallel to the Silk Road story runs what might be called the “Dumpling Belt”, where these humble dishes travelled the trade routes, changing names, shapes and cooking methods as they moved westwards.
As we explore the tasty treats, we see the subtle changes as you travel through borders, regions and countries.
Once Upon a Time in China
According to Chinese tradition, their story begins with the legendary physician Zhang Zhongjing, who, during a bitter winter nearly two millennia ago, folded dough around mutton, herbs and warming spices to treat villagers suffering from frostbitten ears, shaping the parcels to resemble the ears themselves.
