The Origins Of Xiao Long Bao (XLB) | Chili House San Francisco (2024)

The Origins Of Xiao Long Bao (XLB) | Chili House San Francisco (1)

Xiao Long Bao, casually known as XLB, is a much-loved Chinese cuisine known for its delicate wrapping and flavorful soup filling with a powerful aroma. As famous as Xiao Long Bao is today, it comes from humble beginnings. Its creator, Huang Mingxian, was the owner of a restaurant called Ri Hua Xuan. It was while working here that he created Xiao Long Bao in the 1870s. It happened somewhat by accident as he added aspic to minced pork and then steamed it. Mingxian quickly noticed that the aspic turned liquid and the dumpling filled with soup.

The Early Marketing Of Xiao Long Bao

After tasting Xiao Long Baoand realizing it was delicious, Mingxian knew that others in his village would enjoy it as well. He came up with the nameNanxiang da rou mantou, which means large bun filled with meat. He reasoned that the petite size of the soup dumplings would surprise diners and create a memorable experience for them, which turned out to be true.

Although customers came to Ri Hua Xuan in droves to taste what is now known as Xiao Long Bao, they weren’t crazy about the name that Mingxian assigned it at the time. They took to calling it by a name that they feltbetter described its appearance and origination. That name was Nanxiang xiaolongbao. The first part of the name described the region where the memorable dish originated from while xiao meant small, long meant basket, and bao meant bun. Over the years, people separated the words and then eventually begin referring to it as XLB.

Another Version On The Origins XLB

While most Chinese credit Huang Mingxian with creating the delicious dumpling dish, some hold to an alternative theory. The alternate origin is that Emperor Qianlong actually brought Xiao Long Bao to prominence.

The emperor, whose life spanned from 1711 to 1789, travelled through the Wuxi, Jiangsu province in the mid-1700s. During this time, he tasted the dumpling for the first time. People of the region called Emperor Qianlong the Swimming Dragon. This translates to “Youlong” in Chinese, because he typically traveled along the river.

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The Emperor’s ringing endorsem*nt of the new dumplings made it famous throughout the region. In fact, some people believed that the wordlongin Xiao Long Bao should be replaced with dragon instead of standing for basket. Even so, the XLB moniker has stood the test of time for at least two centuries.

Eating Xiao Long Bao Today

When a person bites into a soup dumpling for the first time, he or she often expresses a sense of wonder at their pure deliciousness of it. They quickly learn how to carefully open the dumpling and extract the juice without burning their mouths.

Although served primarily as an appetizer, people often want more XLB once they’ve had their first bite. Regardless of which origin story of Xiao Long Bao is true, people continue to enjoy this culinary delight. Centuries later, its popularity continues to grow outside of China.

The Origins Of Xiao Long Bao (XLB) | Chili House San Francisco (2024)

FAQs

The Origins Of Xiao Long Bao (XLB) | Chili House San Francisco? ›

The Origin and Story of the Xiao Long Bao

What is the origin of xiao long bao? ›

While its origins are often debated, most agree that the xiao long bao's story begins in the Shanghai suburb of Nanxiang over nearly 150 years ago. It is believed that Huang Mingxian wanted to create a dumpling that would surprise and delight the guests of his restaurant, Ri Hua Xuan.

Why does xiao long bao have 18 folds? ›

Some say there are 18 folds because the number is considered lucky in Chinese culture. Din Tai Fung says that after continuous testing, they found that 18 folds is the golden ratio of making the perfect xiaolongbao. Din Tai Fung chefs fill dumplings with minced pork at the restaurant's Taiwan location.

What does XLB mean dumpling? ›

Xiao Long Bao, casually known as XLB, is a much-loved Chinese cuisine known for its delicate wrapping and flavorful soup filling with a powerful aroma.

What makes xiao long bao special? ›

Xiaolongbao in Changzhou is known for its thin wraps, great taste of its ingredients, and the soup that spills out when taken a bite. Among the types, crab filled Xiaolongbao is the most well known type in Changzhou that are served after the mid autumn festival.

Where did the Xiao originate from? ›

The xiao first appeared in the Han dynasty (206 bc–220 ad), possibly imported from the Qiang people of what is now northwestern China. Most xiao are made of bamboo, but jade, porcelain, and ivory xiao are also known.

Where did bao originate from? ›

Bao or Baozi are said to have been invented in China during the 3rd century by a military strategist called Zhuge Liang [181-234]. They were first named Mantou but over time they began to be referred to as baozi or bao meaning to wrap in Mandarin.

What does long bao bao mean? ›

What does xiaolongbao mean in Chinese? Xiao means small or little, long means basket, and bao means bun. So literally it means little basket bun.

Is xiao long bao a dimsum? ›

as louis said, xiaolongbao is one kind of dim sum. furthermore, xiaolongbao also has different types, cuz xiaolong actually means small basket, usually made by bamboo, looking like this, and many dim sum would be cooked in such small bamboo baskets.

Is xiao long bao from hong kong? ›

The history of xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings: from the outskirts of Shanghai to popular snack loved all over the world.

What is xiao long bao in english? ›

What is Xiao Long Bao. Xiao Long Bao, literally meaning “small basket buns”, is a type of steamed bun originating from Jiangsu province, China. Known as soup dumplings in English, they are a hybrid of Baozi (包子) and Jiaozi (饺子): having the shape of Baozi but using non-leavened wrappers like Jiaozi.

What does XLB mean in clothing? ›

Generally an XLB measurements are cut/tailored larger in the chest area to fit a huskier/portly big man. A shirt that is designated XLT measurements are skewered in the opposite direction in that the fit is geared towards a taller man lengthwise. For example : 5XLB could mean a shirt cut with a 22-24 neck-34/35 sleeve.

What is the meaning of bao in Chinese dumplings? ›

The Bao ('bun') developed in Chinese culture as a filled form of 'Mantou,' a plain steamed dumpling which is often compared to bread.

Who invented xiao long bao? ›

The Origin and Story of the Xiao Long Bao

A small restaurant owner Huang Mingxian accidentally created these soup dumplings when he added aspic (gelatin) to his pork filling and steamed it. He quickly realized that the dumpling had filled up with soup.

What do you drink with xiao long bao? ›

In terms of pairing wines with Xiao Long Bao, this might be a bit unexpected, but we recommend drinking a sparkling white wine—a Cremant de Bordeaux.

What are the 8 flavors of xiao long bao? ›

Each piece in this basket of eight treasures has its distinct color and flavor, which are extracted from natural ingredients. The enticing flavors are signature original, kimchi, crab roe, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, garlic and Szechuan.

Is xiao long bao Taiwanese or Chinese? ›

First, a bit of history: Generally thought to have been invented in the late 19th century, possibly as early as the years preceding the Guang Xu period (1875-1908) of Qing China, xiao long bao hail from the town of Nan Xiang in what is now Shanghai's Jiading district.

What is the origin of the dumpling? ›

Most experts believe that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a Chinese medicine practitioner who lived in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the second imperial dynasty of China that lasted from 206 BC to 220 AD. As legend tells it, it was a difficult winter and many were experiencing ill effects from the cold.

Is bao Japanese or Vietnamese? ›

Who made the first Bao? The Bao ('bun') developed in Chinese culture as a filled form of 'Mantou,' a plain steamed dumpling which is often compared to bread.

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