Nanjing Food---Five-savory Beans of Kuiguangge

魁光阁的五香豆


Five-savory Beans are also known as "Successful Candidate's Beans", which this nickname was derived from the fact that during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the imperial examination candidates liked to bring this kind of beans on their way to Jiangnan Gongyuan in Nanjing, the most famous and largest imperial examination venue in southeast China.

The delicious snack is made from horsebeans, which will be so fragrance after cooking. A local children goes like this : "Five-savory beans are really fragrant. The aroma can be smelt outside the city when people tasting the snack inside…"

Nowadays the best place to try this special snack is at Kuiguangge (魁光阁) in Fuzimiao area, the taste is still traditional and authentic. Another great delicacy served here is Five-savory Egg. This egg can be found all over China, but the best taste is also in Kuiguangge restaurant.