Sesame Seed Cake, a kind of crispy baked snack stuffed with dried vegetable and fat pork , is popular in south Anhui Province.

Sesame Seed Cake was regarded as the Life-saving cake by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. It's said when Zhu Yuanzhang (Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty enthroned in 1368) sought refuge from the enemy in a farmer's home in Huizhou, he was starving. The farmer took out his favorite snake—sesame seed cakes to Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was obsessed with the good taste. He still remembered the kindness of the farmer after he ascended the throne, and honored the cake as life-saving cake.

When Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty took his first voyage to the south, Jiang Chun, a rich merchant from Huizhou was responsible for the reception. He presented tea together with sesame seed cakes to welcome the distinguished guest coming all the way from the capital. After taking the tea and the tasty snake, the emperor got refreshed and delighted. So he named it "Emperor seal cake".

You can have a try to taste the Sesame Seed Cake while you visit Huangshan of Anhui Province.

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