[1] In China, they are known as mahua (麻花);[2] in Korea, they are known as kkwabaegi (꽈배기),[3] and in the Philippines, they are known as shakoy and pilipit, in Japan, they are known as sakubei (索餅).

[4] In Mainland China and Taiwan, twisted doughnuts known as mahua (麻花) are traditional fried desserts with regional variations.

The main ingredients consist of flour, sugar and cooking oil, though salt, honey, nuts and other spices can be added as well.

The mildly sweet, fluffy, spongy, twisted doughnuts are made with yeasted wheat or glutinous rice flour dough and melted butter.

[8] Shakoy or siyakoy from the Visayas Islands (also known as lubid-lubid in the northern Philippines) uses a length of dough twisted into a distinctive rope-like shape before being fried.