As late autumn breezes drift through the fields and lanes of Baoshan's Luojing town, sweet osmanthus blooms golden under the fading sun. Its delicate fragrance drifts into homes and hearts alike, now captured in two special seasonal creations: osmanthus fermented rice milk and osmanthus shortbread cookies.

🥛Osmanthus fermented rice milk

Fermented rice and osmanthus have long been treasured flavors of autumn and winter in Luojing. Combined with fresh milk, they create a uniquely layered and comforting drink.

Fresh osmanthus flowers are picked in the early morning, carefully cleaned, and slowly simmered with sugar into an amber-hued syrup — the very soul of this beverage.

The glass is first coated with this fragrant syrup, then layered with handmade fermented rice, a local rice that has been fermented for three days. Cold fresh milk is poured over, blending gently into the sweet, mildly acidic rice.

The result is a beautifully balanced drink where the creaminess of the milk meets the gentle tang of fermentation, all lifted by the floral sweetness of osmanthus. Chilled, silky, and not overly sweet, it's a contemporary take on a local classic.

🍪Osmanthus shortbread cookies

While the osmanthus milk offers refreshing sweetness, these buttery cookies provide the perfect textural contrast — crisp, fragrant, and utterly moreish.

Dried osmanthus is kneaded into a rich dough of butter and flour, spreading its floral aroma even before baking. Each piece is shaped and gently pressed with a pattern, then topped with a few fresh osmanthus petals, capturing the season's fleeting beauty.

Baked at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes, the cookies turn golden at the edges, with a tender crisp that melts on the tongue. The buttery richness is perfectly complemented by the floral, honey-like notes of osmanthus — neither too sweet nor heavy, especially when paired with a light tea.

📍 Where to try: Local tea shops and bakeries in Luojing town, Baoshan district

Sources: WeChat account of Baoshan district government at "sh-baoshan", Luojing town government