The perfect confection

A look at one of Shanghai's most iconic pastries that has remained a crowd favorite through the years

It's no secret that the weather can be a baker's worst enemy, and during rainy winter days, the inexperienced ones may struggle to achieve the optimal level of moisture in their dough.

But at this cramped two-storey workshop tucked within Shanghai's most traditional neighborhood, 59-year-old Lin Jianming and his apprentices know exactly how many extra seconds their golden butterfly-shaped puff pastries need to be in the oven.