28.05.25
Pupils from Cleves Primary School in East London have taken part in an exciting virtual exchange with their partner school in China, Yangan Primary School, celebrating the rich dessert traditions of both countries.
To begin the exchange, Yangan Primary School led a traditional Chinese wellness exercise called 五禮貫勢, showcasing the importance of balance, mindfulness and physical wellbeing in their daily routines.
Principal Wu from Yangan welcomed participants warmly, reflecting on the importance of food as a cultural bridge: “Chinese pastries are like jewels in our cultural heritage – delicious, meaningful, and steeped in history.”
Traditional Chinese Treats
Students from Yangan proudly presented an array of traditional Chinese desserts, including: mooncakes, sweet dumplings, flower cakes, rice balls and green bean cakes.
Each student took turns explaining the ingredients and the historical or seasonal significance of their dish. One student explained how mooncakes are shared during the Mid-Autumn Festival to symbolise reunion and togetherness. Another described the process of making crispy, nut-filled dragon beard candy, likening it to “a sweet that tells a story.”
During the session, students at Cleves learned how Chinese desserts often reflect values of harmony, community, and celebration, and how each region has its own specialities tied to local customs and festivals.
British Dessert Culture
Live from London, pupils from Years 3 to 6 at Cleves Primary School gave a vibrant presentation, tracing the history of “pudding” from savoury origins to sweet favourites like sticky toffee pudding, trifle, rice pudding and Eton Mess. They also highlighted how celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver have helped popularise these treats.
The session ended with a fun, hands-on demonstration of Eton Mess – a mix of strawberries, meringue, and whipped cream. With step-by-step instructions, pupils showed their Chinese friends how to assemble the dessert.
“Our desserts tell stories too,” said one pupil. “From Christmas pudding made with dried fruit and spices, to layered trifles that are perfect for parties – each dish has a place in our traditions.”
For both schools, this project was an authentic and meaningful way to compare and contrast different cultures and traditions. “This is our second project with Yangan Primary,” said Ms. Lawrence, Cleves’ MFL lead. “These exchanges have become a meaningful way for our pupils to connect classroom learning with real-world cultures.”
Yangan pupils, many of whom are studying English, were equally enthusiastic, asking questions and cheering on their UK counterparts. Likewise, Cleves students, who study Mandarin as a modern foreign language, enjoyed the opportunity to engage with Chinese culture firsthand.
Building on the success of this cultural exchange, both schools plan to continue their partnership through future virtual activities, explore opportunities for in-person visits, and further embed the Chinese culture into Cleves Primary School’s curriculum – enriching learning and deepening global understanding for everyone involved.
