Eating in China
Generated guide illustration of aiwowo; not a restaurant photograph.

Aiwowo

艾窝窝Àiwōwo

White sticky rice balls with sweet filling

Small white rice balls wrapped around a sweet nut-and-fruit filling.

Heat
Region
Beijing
Type
Sweets
Street foodKid-friendlyVegan
Order in Chinese

At the table

How to enjoy it

Cut or take a small bite of the soft rice ball; it is ready to eat.

A useful check

The rice wrapper is sticky. This filling includes peanuts and sesame; check the filling if you have allergies.

How it may vary

Fillings vary, including nuts, fruit pastes and sweet osmanthus; ask what is inside.

Aiwowo has a soft, sticky glutinous-rice wrapper around a sweet nut-and-fruit filling. Offer a small cut piece only to a child already comfortable with sticky textures, and check the filling first.

Recipes vary. Ask the restaurant about ingredients and serving before you order.

GET TO KNOW THE DISH

What goes into it?

Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.

The filling can combine sesame, peanuts and sweet fruit preparations.

Recipes vary by restaurant.

How does it taste?

Sweet and nutty

NuttySweet
Chili heat
Texture
Soft and sticky.
How it’s made
Steam glutinous rice, pound and fill it, then dust with cooked rice flour.

The filling can combine sesame, peanuts and sweet fruit preparations.

A CONNECTION TO PLACE

Origin & regional roots

Explore regional food

Associated with Beijing.

About this regional connection

Beijing: A dish associated with Beijing; individual preparations vary.

Ask if they have it first

ASK IF IT'S AVAILABLE

请问你们有艾窝窝吗?

Do you have this item?

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ

Story & history

Aiwowo in a Qing poem of Beijing snacks

Aiwowo appears in a Qing-era poem about Beijing’s everyday foods, alongside shaobing and other snacks. Its place in the verse connects this little sweet with the city’s old street-food culture, where familiar calls and simple treats were part of daily life.

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