At Shen Dacheng (沈大成) on Nanjing East Road, the long lines are back. You can barely see the counter from outside, but the smell gives it away.
People move quickly here: queue, buy, leave. Most are locals who come back for the same thing every year.
These soft, chewy green rice balls are made with mugwort and glutinous rice. The classic filling is sweet red bean, but there's also the savory version with salted egg yolk and pork floss. Alongside those, a small rotation of newer flavors like mashed potato with bacon and shepherd's purse with fresh pork.
Prices range from 5 to 10 yuan per piece, depending on the flavor.
It's a strictly seasonal thing, tied to the Qingming Festival, when families visit their ancestors and bring food as offerings. That's why it only shows up for a few weeks, from late March to early April.
Shen Dacheng (沈大成)
Address: 636 Nanjing East Road.
Time: 7am–10pm.
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images: 小红书: 海苔鲜贝贝
