As one of the renowned special local products in Nanjing, tasty balls first emerged under Tongzhi reign of the Qing dynasty. They look like delicate apples with dense texture in red and white while tasting delicious, tender and slightly sweet. The tasty ball is both a famous dish for the banquet and a nice one for everyday diet.

Chiefly composed of fresh pork, the tasty ball is generally leaner, with modest amount of salt, sugar and spices as ingredients. At Nanyang Trade Fair in 1910, Nanjing tasty balls won the fame, hence becoming renowned at home and abroad and sold worldwide.