Shaomei is a traditional snack in Taiyuan. Originally, it was a dish at celebratory feasts of rich people in Shanxi's rural areas. Beijing's shaomei originated from the Shanxi dish.

The technique of making shaomei is complex and a tailor-made wood stick is required to craft its flower-shaped brim.

A good shaomei cover is as thin as a piece of paper, as round as a plate and looks like wintersweet in the food steamer. Procedures of making shaomei include kneading the dough, rolling it into pieces, making the brim, mixing the fillings and steaming the shaomei in the food steamer.