Chinese people eat more and more bread, especially in urban areas, rising the average bread consumption per inhabitant from 2.2 kg / inhabitant / year in 2010 to 5 kg in 2015. Young people, white collars and kids appreciate bread while older people still consider bread as foreign food and would only occasionally eat. This is an excellent news for Expatriates, who usually come from countries where bread consumption is much higher: it should be easier and easier to find baked goods in China… and we can also expect the quality to improve!
The Chinese baked goods market
Chinese people usually prefer soft bread (the recipe includes fat and sugar, which gives soft texture, like a brioche), but are more and more open to European breads with hard crust and / or grains & seeds, as well as wholegrain flours. This could be explained by the fact that more and more Chinese people are travelling abroad, getting exposed to different types of breads (Europe, but also Japan and Taiwan, where European breads are widely accepted by the population).
Bread is also considered as an alternative to quick meals for Chinese people: breads can replace the traditional youtiao and the mantou eaten at breakfast and sandwiches are much easier to eat than a bowl of noddles for Chinese office workers.
As regarding cakes, the Chinese traditional cake is full of cream (too often non-dairy cream), colors and if the design / appearance is usually incredible (not saying attractive for Western people), the taste is seldom wonderful. However, again, products offered in the market gradually evolve and we can find fair quality from some recognized cake shops. More and more imported ingredients are available, allowing Chinese cake factories to produce Tiramisu with an authentic mascarpone or good quality chocolate.
Where to buy bread and cakes in Beijing?
You can find breads in most convenience stores (7-11 for example), local supermarkets (Jingkelong, Wu-mart ….) and imported goods supermarkets (Jenny Lou, Jenny Wang, April Gourmet…) and hypermarkets (Carrefour, Walmart, Metro…).
Industrial breads / packed breads are produced by large industries, like Mankattan or Bimbo for example. The quality is more or less equivalent to what you can find back in your home country.
Supermarkets and hypermarkets usually have a bakery section with variable quality depending on the branch and on the brand.
For those looking for freshly baked breads and cakes, like you can find back in your home country, it is easier and easier to find good quality breads in Beijing – even the market is not yet as developed as Shanghai. Here is a list of bakery shops available in Beijing.
| English name | Area | Type | Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opera Bombana | Chaoyang | Bakery / restaurant | Add: LG2-21 Parkview Green Fang Cao Di, 9 Dongdaqiao Road 东大桥路9号 Parkview Green芳草地 地下二层21号单元 Phone: 5690 7177 http://www.operabombana.com/ |
| Lollipop Bakery | Sanlitun | British Bakery | Sold in Crepanini shops http://www.lollipopbakery.cn/ |
| Wagas | Chaoyang | Casual dining | Many locations in Beijing http://www.wagas.com.cn/ |
| Flour | Chaoyang | Dessert shop | Phone: 5785 3060 |
| Sweet Tooth | Dongcheng | Dessert shop | Add: 18 Xinzhong Jie 东城区 新中街18号 Phone: 15011217173 http://sweettoothbeijing.com/ |
| Colibri Coffee 蜂鸟 | Sanlitun | Dessert shop | Add: LG51, Taikoo Li North, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯路11号太古里北区地下1层LG51 Phone: 6417 0808 |
| Auntie Jane's Bakery & Café | Shunyi | Dessert shop | Add: 3 locations (Shunyi, 798, east 3rd ring) Phone: 6458 1368 https://auntiejanebakery.shutterfly.com/ |
| Euro Bakery 北京金马欧兰食品有限公司 | Shunyi | European bakery | Add: 18 Jinma Industry Zone, Shunyi District 顺义区金马工业区18号 Phone: 6949 1450 http://www.eurobakery.com.cn/ http://www.eurocake.com.cn/ |
| 阳光海伦蛋糕店 | Shunyi | European bakery | Add: Shùnyì Qū Tiānzhú Kāifāqū Rì Xiáng Guǎngchǎng 806 Hào 顺义区天竺开发区日祥广场806号 Phone: 8046 1190 http://www.helensun.com.cn/ |
| Boulangerie Bruno 面包房 | European bakery | Add: 2 locations in Beijing (Beichen and Yau Tang) Phone: 13366777506 http://www.easybestchina.com/en/lxwm.php?id=2 |
|
| Amandine Bakery | Chaoyang | French Bakery | 2 locations: French Embassy and French Institute http://amandine-bakery.com/ |
| L'Atelier 讲麦堂 | Chaoyang | French Bakery | Add: 6 Chaowai Street, Central Park, Tower 20, #102 北京朝阳区,朝阳外大街6号 新城国际20号楼102底墒 Phone: 6597 0724 http://jiangmaitang.com/?lang=zh |
| Comptoirs de France 法派 | French Bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://corporate.comptoirsdefrance.com/fr |
|
| Michaels German Bakery | Chaoyang | German Bakery | Chaoyang District Laiguangying East Road No 8 - 1 北京市朝阳区来广营东路8－1号 http://www.michaels-german-bakery.com/ |
| South German Bakery 德南面包房 | German Bakery | Add: 北京市朝阳区朝阳公园路1-24号 Phone: 5867 0201 http://www.germanbakery.com.cn/ |
|
| Kempi Deli 凯宾美食廊 | Chaoyang | Hotel Bakery | Add: 1/f Kempinski Hotel,Chaoyang District 朝阳区亮马桥路50号, 100125 北京 Phone: 6465 3388 http://www.kempinski.com/zh-cn/beijing/hotel-lufthansa-center/dining/restaurants/kempi-deli/ |
| The Sweet Spot 美食店 | Chaoyang | Hotel Bakery | Add: EB118, B1/F, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城地下1层EB118 Phone: 6505 0885 http://www.shangri-la.com/beijing/chinaworld/dining/restaurants/the-sweet-spot/ |
| The Swiss Deli | Dongcheng | Hotel Bakery | Add: 1/F Swissotel, 2 Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie 东城区潮阳门北大街2号 Phone: 6553 2288 ext. 2127 http://www.swissotel.com/beijing |
| Da Giuliano Pasticceria Panetteria | Chaoyang | Italian Bakery | Add: 三里屯北小街1号 (东直门外大街), 朝阳区 Phone: 8454 4402 |
| Pekotan 配口堂 | Chaoyang | Japanese Bakery | Add: Central Park 世贸天街新城国际 Store 21-22, Bldg 12, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区 朝阳门外大街6号新城国际12号楼21-22号 Phone: 6533 6605 http://yashiro-foods.com/pekotan/cn/ |
| Bread of life Bakery | Non profit organization, delivery | Langfang http://www.breadoflifebakery.org/ |
|
| 21 cake 上海廿一客食品有限公司 | Chaoyang | Online ordering (cakes) | 400 650 2121 http://www.21cake.com |
| Divina Cakes | Chaoyang | Online ordering (cakes) | 400-656-1128 http://divinacakes.com/ |
| Pantry's Best | Chaoyang | Online ordering (cakes) | 5166 4464 http://www.pantrysbest.com/cities/beijing |
| Waffle Boy 窝夫小子 | Chaoyang | Online ordering (cakes) | http://www.waffleboy.com.cn/ |
| Fat Bunny Bakery | Online ordering (cakes) | http://fatbunnybakery.com/ | |
| Boulangerie Nanda 版权所有 | Chaoyang | Organic Bakery | Add: Xiang Jiang Bei Lu, Cathay View Garden Phone: 8459 0134 http://www.bnanda.com/en/ |
| Black Swan Luxury Cakes 黑天鹅蛋糕 | Cake shop | Many locations in Beijing http://www.blackswancake.com/ |
|
| 85C | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing | |
| Bread Talk | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.breadtalk.com.cn/ |
|
| Ichido 宜芝多 | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.ichido.com.cn/ |
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| Paris Baguette 巴黎贝甜 | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.parisbaguette.com.cn/ |
|
| Toast Box 土司新语 | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.breadtalk.com/ourbrand-tb.html |
|
| Tous les Jours 多乐之日 | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.tljchina.cn/ |
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| Wedome Bakery 味多美 | Asian bakery | Many locations in Beijing http://www.wdmcake.cn/ |
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