Spring rolls, with their crispy wrappers and flavorful fillings, are a beloved processed food enjoyed across the globe. Originating in China, they began spreading to other countries during the Tang Dynasty through cultural exchange, evolving into a wide variety of forms. Let’s explore the regional characteristics of spring rolls around the world!
East Asia
●China: Spring rolls (chūn juǎn) are a traditional Chinese dish eaten during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing spring and new beginnings. The fillings vary greatly and can include vegetables, meats, seafood, glass noodles, tofu, and more—preferences differ by region and culture.
Traditional Spring Rolls: About 8–12 cm in length and 2–3 cm in diameter, deep-fried, and typically filled with pork, chicken, shrimp, carrots, chives, and cabbage, sometimes with mushrooms and bean sprouts.
Shanghai Spring Rolls: Feature sweet red bean paste fillings, served as a dessert snack.
Garlic Chive Spring Rolls: Filled primarily with garlic chives, offering a fragrant and savory flavor.
Shepherd’s Purse Spring Rolls: Filled with shepherd’s purse, known for its distinct herbal aroma.
Run Bing (潤餅): Common in Taiwan, 15–20 cm long and 4–6 cm in diameter, made by spreading batter (flour and water) on a flat pan to create a thin wrap. Fillings include lettuce, bean sprouts, carrots, shredded pork, dried tofu, and cilantro, topped with ground peanuts and sugar, and served fresh (not fried).
Spring Pancakes (春餅): Popular in northern China, served warm, filled with stir-fried vegetables and sometimes meat.
Thin Pancakes (薄餅): Common in Fujian, known for their thin wraps and generous fillings, often featuring seafood and vegetables.
●Vietnam:
Gỏi cuốn (pronounced [ɣɔjˇ kǔən]): Also known as salad rolls, about 10–15 cm long and 3–4 cm in diameter. Served cold, filled with rice noodles, shrimp, pork, and vegetables, typically dipped in peanut sauce or a tangy fish sauce with chili and lime.
Chả giò (Fried Spring Rolls): 8–10 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter. Filled with ingredients like shrimp and pork, wrapped in rice paper, and deep-fried until crispy. Served with herbs and lettuce.
●Philippines: Lumpia (pronounced [ˈlumpja]), derived from Fujian-style pancakes, 10–12 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter. Variants include fried, steamed, or fresh spring rolls.
Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Spring Roll): Similar to Vietnamese rolls, made with fresh vegetables and meat, served without frying.
Lumpiang Shanghai (Fried Lumpia): Filled with ground pork and vegetables, deep-fried.
Lumpiang Toge: Filled primarily with bean sprouts, often served with a sweet chili sauce.
●Indonesia: Lumpia (pronounced [ˈlumpia]), similar to Filipino lumpia, typically 10–15 cm long and 3–4 cm in diameter, with a variety of fillings and cooking methods.
Semarang Style: Larger, richer in fillings, often including eggs and shrimp.
Solo Style: Smaller rolls, mainly filled with bean sprouts.
●Japan: Harumaki (春巻き) (pronounced [haɾɯmaki]), 10–12 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter. Typically deep-fried with a wrapper that includes egg for extra crispiness. Fillings often include pork, glass noodles, onions, bamboo shoots, and carrots. Served with soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce.
●Korea: Gimmari (김말이) (pronounced [kimmari]), 8–10 cm long and 2–2.5 cm in diameter. Made by wrapping glass noodles and vegetables in seaweed, then deep-fried. Often served with Korean chili paste or alongside spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki).
Other Regions
●United States: Egg Roll: 12–15 cm long and 4–5 cm in diameter. Usually deep-fried with a thick, crunchy wrapper. Fillings include pork, cabbage, carrots, and glass noodles. Commonly served with sweet and sour sauce or mustard.
●Thailand: Poh Pia Tod (ปอเปี๊ยะทอด): 8–10 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter. Crispy exterior with savory fillings seasoned with fish sauce, curry powder, and spices. Typically served with a sweet and sour chili sauce.
●France: Rouleau de Printemps: 12–15 cm long and 3–4 cm in diameter. A French adaptation of Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, often incorporating French herbs and served with fish sauce or peanut sauce.
The Diversity of Spring Rolls
As shown above, spring rolls vary widely across the world—in ingredients, preparation methods, sauces, and cultural meanings. Next time you enjoy a spring roll, take a moment to appreciate its details—you might discover something new!
