Stamped Cookie

Stamped cookies are small, relatively thin circular or oval biscuits, using various flours and sweeteners. Their name comes from the fact they are often stamped before baking, sometimes with a family Mon, sometimes with seasonal imagery. Theough most cookies have a particular texture and softness of crispness accepted as 'orthodox', personal preferences can vary widely on the perfect texture for these sweet treats. Stamped Cookies form a regular part of Dynastic Dim Sum, and are a key component of the meal served during a properly-conducted Tea Ceremony.

There are several common types of stamped cookie:

Sugar Cookie – A sweet cookie, made with significant sugar, baked so that the sugar caramelizes along the bottom of the cookie, giving a satisfying crunch, while the surface remains soft.

Lemon Cookie - As the sugar cookie, but with addition of a small amount of lemon juice and lemon zest to give a lemony flavour and slight acidity to cut its sweetness. Sometimes, for a fresh element, the cookies will also include a sprinkling of thyme. This cookie is considered to pair best with the mon of House Nellens.

Almond Cookie – A sweet cookie, made with almond paste and baked golden. This cookie is considered to pair best with the mon of House Mnemon.

Ginger Cookie – Much darker in colour than the other stamped cookies, carrying a heavy bite of ginger and molasses. This cookie is considered to pair best with the mon of House Ragara.

Green Tea Cookie – A sugar cookie flavoured with ground green Tea, giving it a light greenish colour and a bitter element to counter the dominant sweetness. This cookie is considered to pair best with the mon of House Cynis.