According to the late Huang Ping Guoi the Folklore Expert of the Foochows...there is this story of how Foochow siew mai came into being.
A farmer had two daughters. One married a rich man of high status and another married a poor farmer. On the farmer's 60th birthday, the wealthy daughters sent gifts of gold and other gifts. The poor daughter had little to give but she made lovingly some food from what was available in the farm.
She wrapped minced pork, shredded jicama, prawns and fish in wantan skin, tied with a green spring onion bow and topped with red does of crab roe.
She wrote a poem for her father's birthday. I have not been able to find the original Chinese poem but from what I heard from the late Mr. Huang, he told us that the Foochow siew muai, came with these words from the intelligent daughter of the farmer.
"These little nuggets of love are filled with the best of love from nature. I give you what I have from the farm for your good health. The green spring onion leaf tie our family together and the red crab roe symbolises your auspicious birthday. May you live a long and healthy life. "
Variously spelt shaomai, shui mai, shu mai, sui mai, shui mei, siu mai, shao mai (Cantonese), xíu mại (Vietnamese)
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