Xizhou Cake

Dali Xizhou cake is called “baba” or “posu” by local people. It is, in fact, a baked cake made of wheat flour, with good colour, pleasant odor and delicious taste. “Baba” is a snack in Dali area, and Xizhou baba is the most traditional and famous one.

Wheat flour is the main material of this kind of cake. Dough leavening needs special attention. People will apply a right amout of soda on the dough, then fully knead it, and make it into several layers by using oil. If chopped shallot, Chinese pricky ash, and salt are sprinkled on, the cake will have a salty flavour; if ham, meat, and brown sugar are wrapped in, it will be sweet. After the dough is made into round cakes, they will be layed on a round block, 6 pieces at a time, 3 for each flavour. Later, then sesame oil will be brushed on the up faces of these cakes, and then they will be put baked. About ten minutes later, a pan of golden, delicious, crisp and soft “posu” will come out of the pan.

With beautiful colour, delicious flavour, and low price, Xizhou baba has always been a convenient and popular snack in Bai people’s daily life, especially when they go out for work or tour.