You tiao - Definition and Overview

You tiao (油條) is a Chinese fried bread stick, or long doughnut. It is golden brown, slightly salted and also created as a pair which can be torn lengthwise in two.

In the south of China, they are generally called oil-fried ghosts (油炸鬼; Cantonese: yau ja guai, pinyin: you zha gui). Legend has it that the term originated as an act of protest against Song Dynasty official Qin Kuai, who is said to have orchestated the plot to frame the general Yue Fei.

Quite often, these bread sticks are consumed with rice congee or soy milk as a breakfast food.

When it is also served wrapped in a white rice flour sheet, it is known as a 炸兩 (Cantonese: ja leung, pinyin zha liang) and served cut into pieces with soy sauce sprinkled over it as a dim sum dish.

See also: Cantonese cuisine