Lo Po Bing (Sweetheart Cake) from Hang Heung

A sweetheart cake or wife cake or marriage pie is a traditional Cantonese pastry with a thin crust of flaky pastry, and made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder. “Wife cake" is the translation of lou po beng from Cantonese, and although the meaning is "wife", the literal translation is "old lady cake", paralleling the colloquial usage of "old lady" for "wife" in American English.

The traditional variant is from the Guangdong-Hong Kong region, where the filling consists of candied wintermelon.The candied wintermelon mash is then combined with white sesame seeds and glutinous rice flour. Coconut in the form of mash or desiccated shreds and almond paste, as well as vanilla, are also added sometimes. The authentic flavour and flaky texture of the pastry is produced by using pork lard shortening then by glazing with egg wash. Due to its rising popularity in Western countries brought about by immigration, butter is sometimes substituted in place of lard, though this will alter the taste. The level of sweetness is mild, compared to Western sweet pastries. Source: wikipedia

Photo credit: Hang Heung

Where to buy: Hang Heung Cake Shop (579 Nathan Road, Shop 1, Mong Kok, Kowloon), Hang Heung has 3 other branches, please click the link to their website for more info.

Tel: +852 2476 3080

Website: hangheung.com.hk

Hours: Monday to Sunday 08:00am - 08:00pm