Spring rolls (Chun juan)

Spring rolls are traditional Chinese snacks consisting of thin sheets of dough that are filled with various ingredients, then deep-fried in hot oil. Some of the more common ingredients for the filling include shredded pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and cabbage.

These flavorful snacks are commonly served as an appetizer, accompanied by numerous dips, tea, or coffee. Originally, spring rolls were called spring dish, symbolizing the beginning of Spring. Spring dish used to be sent to friends or relatives as a spring present and a blessing, and they were usually filled only with vegetables and fruits.

The dish originated during the Eastern Jin dynasty era, and the spring dishes later evolved into spring cakes. With the development of cookery skills, the traditional spring cakes evolved into spring rolls, which were commonly present at Chinese imperial menus.

Today, there are numerous variations of spring rolls around the world, most notably in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia, although spring rolls can be found in most Chinese restaurants.