This is Megan Greene with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

They’re tasty. They’re popular. And they’re a marketing nightmare. China’s well-loved goubuli steamed buns are the pride of Tianjin, but their name translates literally to “a dog would ignore it.” According to legend, the buns were invented by a poor village boy nicknamed gouzi, or puppy, who did not speak to his customers. Worried that foreigners will turn up their noses at this unfortunately named delicacy, the Tianjin Goubuli Group Corporation has tweaked the 150-year-old name to “Go Believe,” a perplexing sort-of transliteration of the Chinese sound. The company says the buns will now be “better understood and trusted.” Perhaps. Or perhaps as with American hot dogs, “Go Believe” bun eaters are being encouraged to simply go on faith.

With thanks to Leslie vonHolten for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Megan Greene. Wish you were here.