We’ve encountered dumplings throughout our travels around the world and started asking the question: What actually is a dumpling? We decided to try to answer this with a unique combination of history, science, statistics and, of course, recipes. This is the definitive global guide and a scientifically ironic travel cookbook about dumplings for dumpling lovers (is there anyone who’s not?). We’ve created and analysed a dumpling database, including over 200 dumplings from 70 countries, each classified into six dimensions of dumplingness (dough, cooking method, flavour [savoury or sweet], stuffing, shape, and size).

We analyse their similarities and differences, where they are from and how and why they came to be. We provide recipes for the best-known, unfamiliar, really interesting, and downright funky dumplings. We challenge the reader to decide for themselves what a dumpling is and to discover the amazing diversity of dumplings. Finally, we speculate on the future of dumplings. What new hybrids are on the horizon (or should be).

If you love dumplings (and who doesn’t) you’ll love this book.