Dumpling AtlasDumpling Atlas
Dough wrapped round something good was invented many times, in many places. This is where, when, how it travelled, and how sure anyone can be.
Start with a dumpling
Silk Road & TangJiaozi饺子The crescent that rings in every new year.
Islamic & Mongol worldCanederliAlpine bread balls, first painted in 1180.
Empires & migrationXiaolongbao小笼包A broth hidden in a pleated purse.
Renaissance & printPierogiHalf-moons of potato, cheese and onion.
Empires & migrationKhinkaliხინკალიTwisted topknots full of spiced broth.
Modern & globalNepali momoम:म:The Himalayas' favourite street food.
A popular story says every dumpling descends from China. The evidence says people kept inventing it.
Every date carries its evidence
- A Archaeological or primary source
- D Dated text
- S Secondary consensus
- L Legend
Some dumplings on the map have a dated source; the rest are placed but not yet dated. Unverified leads stay in the database, off the map, until someone finds a source.