Steamed taro buns [Photo/xm.gov.cn]

Wu Zaitian's Snack Bar, a Chinese time-honored brand located in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, has become a major tourist attraction.

The snack bar was established by Wu Zaitian in the early 1950s, and over decades of development, it has grown into an icon of Minnan cuisine. Steamed taro buns, shrimp noodles, hot meat dumplings, and noodles with satay sauce – the restaurant's signature dishes – have been named "Chinese famous snacks" and "Chinese time-honored brands".

The snack bar's steamed taro buns retain a unique local Minnan flavor. They are especially popular in the summer and autumn seasons, and are also an essential part of Spring Festival.

Traditional processes are used to make steamed taro buns. After washing and peeling the taros, the taro paste is mashed and mixed with starch and salt. Oil is then spread around the inside of a bowl and shredded pork, shrimp, shiitake, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts are placed into the bowl and covered with a layer of mashed taro. The bowl is then turned upside-down and placed on a steamer for steaming. Local residents usually eat it with sweet chili sauce or barbeque sauce.