Tangbao or soup buns are large, soup-filled steamed buns (baozi) in Chinese cuisine.[1] They are also sometimes known as guantang bao or soup-filled buns. Various varieties are found, with some name variations in various parts of the country. All of these buns are made by wrapping a gelatinous filling in dough, which is then steamed to melt the filling into soup.[2]Tangbao first appeared in the capital city of the Song dynasty, Bianjing, now Kaifeng, Henan. It spread to the Yangtze River delta following the Jingkang Incident.[3]
Types
Halal tangbao in Xi'an's Hui quarter
Some examples of tangbao include:
Tangbao from Kaifeng, in Henan province: The traditional tang bao in Kaifeng is a large bun, similar to other baozi, which is bitten open to release the soup filling, which is then drunk with a spoon. However, the traditional form has all but disappeared, with most eateries choosing to serve a Jiangsu-style tangbao where the soup is drunk with a straw.
Tangbao from Xi'an, Shaanxi: In the city's Hui quarter, halal tangbao are part of the local Muslim food tradition. Jia San's version uses Qinchuan beef or lamb, with broth made from beef and lamb bones.[4][5]
Tangbao from Yangzhou, Jingjiang and elsewhere in Jiangsu province: This variety is found throughout the Jiangnan region. Often served in its own individual steaming basket, the large steamed bun contains a soup filling made with pork gelatin and sometimes crab roe. The soup is drunk with a straw, and the rest of the bun is eaten afterwards. It is often served with ginger slices and vinegar.
Xiaolongbao from Shanghai and elsewhere in Jiangsu province: A small variety of tangbao usually made with unleavened dough; each bun is picked up and bitten open to access the pork and soup filling.[6]
Xiaolong tangbao from Wuhan: Similar to a xiaolongbao in shape, but made with leavened dough.
↑Lu, Jing (2011). "试论西安回坊饮食文化的区域影响与社会认同" [The regional influence and social identity of food culture in Xi'an's Hui quarter]. Journal of Xi'an Vocational and Technical College (in Chinese). 4 (4): 90–95.
↑"贾三"[Jia San]. China Time-honored Brand Digital Museum (in Chinese). Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
↑Christensen, Matthew B. (2016-11-15). Geek in China: Discovering the Land of Alibaba, Bullet Trains and Dim Sum (Illustrateded.). Tuttle Publishing. p.50. ISBN9781462918362.
