Caizhizhai
Time-Honored BrandCaizhizhai · Shanghai · Founded
Caizhizhai, a century-old Shanghai food brand, is renowned for its Suzhou-style pastries and candies. Carrying the memory of Jiangnan culinary culture, it blends traditional craftsmanship with modern management, offering timeless flavors that have delighted generations.
Brand Story
Caizhizhai originated in Suzhou and later spread to Shanghai, with its exact founding year yet to be officially verified. Historical records indicate that during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (around 1870), a shop named Caizhizhai in Suzhou was already selling Suzhou-style candies and pastries, famed for medicinal sweets like 'Beimu Candy'. After Shanghai opened as a trading port, Caizhizhai followed Suzhou merchants into the city, establishing stores in areas like Yu Garden and Nanjing Road, and gradually became a beloved local brand. Its craftsmanship combines traditional Jiangnan pastry techniques with Shanghai's cosmopolitan tastes, emphasizing fine ingredients and handmade production. Treats like Rose Crisp Candy and Pine Nut Candy are sweet but not cloying, with a delicate, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Caizhizhai is not just a food brand but also a carrier of Suzhou's aesthetic lifestyle. Its sweets were once prized gifts, witnessing the formation of modern Shanghai's civic society and the evolution of consumer culture. During the War of Resistance, Caizhizhai persevered, preserving traditional flavors and becoming a symbol of Shanghai's 'old tastes'. Today, Caizhizhai continues to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern management, writing a new chapter in its century-old culinary legacy.
“[待核]”
Signature Products
A classic Suzhou-style pastry filled with rose petal jam, wrapped in a flaky crust. Sweet, fragrant, and crumbly.
Made with pine nuts and maltose, each piece is plump, sweet, and crunchy, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
A traditional medicinal candy infused with Fritillaria powder, known for its soothing effect on the throat.
Stores & Addresses
Located in: Shanghai（上海）
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Cultural Note
Caizhizhai's craftsmanship inherits the Suzhou-style pastry tradition, emphasizing seasonality and the natural flavors of ingredients. Processes like hand-wrapping pastry and boiling sugar require precise heat control and skill. Its recipes incorporate the concept of 'medicine and food share the same origin', reflecting the Jiangnan dietary culture of 'eating by the seasons' and wellness wisdom. In modern times, Caizhizhai has embraced Shanghai's innovative spirit, developing new confections, yet its core techniques remain true to ancient methods, making it a living heritage of Jiangnan pastry culture in Shanghai.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "China Time-Honored Brand" (中华老字号)?
A China Time-Honored Brand is a designation by China’s Ministry of Commerce for brands with a long history that inherit products, craftsmanship or services across generations and have operated continuously to the present.
When was Caizhizhai founded?
Caizhizhai was founded in null, originating in Shanghai, Shanghai, primarily in the Food & Beverage field.
What is the signature product of Caizhizhai?
Its signature product is Rose Crisp Candy. See the "Signature / Buy Online" section on this page for more products and shopping links.
Where can I find the official list of China Time-Honored Brands?
You can log into the MOFCOM "China Time-Honored Brand Information Management System", or browse this site’s brand directory — we have profiled 1,451 time-honored brands.
Sources / References
Brand fundamentals (founding year, heritage level, recognition batch) follow official sources such as the MOFCOM time-honored brand list. Story and encyclopedia: