Huangjin cake, or golden sponge cake, is a traditional dessert which originated in Southeast Asia and was then brought to Wanning, Hainan province by overseas Chinese. It is now a popular dessert in Wanning. 

It tastes sweet and resilient, mixed with the fragrance of coconut oil and beef tallow. A cup of Wanning specialty Xinglong coffee and a piece of golden sponge cake make the perfect combination for afternoon tea time.

As its name implies, golden sponge cake has a tempting golden color.

Cassava, a major raw material of the delicacy, is rich in starch and dietary fiber, which helps in detoxification, easing pain, and eliminating edemas.

Tropical spices like pandanus leaves, lemongrass, turmeric, and fresh coconut pulp are added when cooking the cake.

It usually takes two hours to make Huangjin cake, including mixing ingredients, fermentation, and baking.

Huangjin cake, also known as golden sponge cake, is a traditional dessert in Wanning. [Photo by Yuan Yu/Hainan Daily]