Sugar-Coated Hawthorns: China's Sweet Legend

Thursday, November 14, 2024

When you walk in the streets and alleys of China, especially in the bustling markets, you will surely spot clusters of bright red hawthorns. They are tightly wrapped in a sugar coating, shimmering with an alluring glow in the sunlight and making your mouth water. This is the sugar-coated hawthorn of China! In the cold winter days, sugar-coated hawthorns always bring people sweetness and warmth, and it has also become a typical representative of Chinese flavors. This article is here to share its story with you.

Interesting Origin

The history of sugar-coated hawthorns dates back a long time and its origin can be traced all the way back to the Southern Song Dynasty, with a legendary story behind it.

During that period, the favorite imperial concubine of Emperor Guangzong of Song, Concubine Huang, suddenly fell seriously ill. The illness was fierce, causing the originally charming and beautiful concubine to become haggard.

This worried the people in the palace, especially Emperor Guangzong of Song, who promptly summoned imperial physicians to diagnose and treat the concubine. The imperial physicians did their best and used all kinds of precious medicines, but Concubine Huang's condition showed no sign of improvement, which plunged everyone into deep worry.

Just when everyone was at a loss, a traveling doctor revealed the imperial list and entered the palace. After carefully taking the pulse of Concubine Huang, this doctor said confidently, "Just boil rock sugar and red fruits (hawthorns) together, and have five to ten pieces before each meal. The illness will surely get better within half a month."

His method sounded simple and seemed too ordinary compared to the precious medicinal materials used by the imperial physicians before, so everyone was skeptical at first. However, unexpectedly, this way of eating suited the concubine's taste very well. Concubine Huang took it with a try-it attitude. Unexpectedly, as the days passed, her complexion gradually became rosy, her appetite gradually recovered, and her health improved day by day. Just as the doctor said, she recovered from the illness as scheduled.

This news quickly spread inside and outside the palace, and people marveled at the magical effect of the combination of rock sugar糖(táng) and hawthorns. Later, this practice gradually spread from the palace to the folk. Ordinary people got inspiration from it. They made some improvements to the combination of hawthorns and rock sugar. They strung the boiled hawthorns on bamboo sticks for easy carrying and eating, and then sold them in the market. Thus, this delicious snack, the sugar-coated hawthorn, was born and has become the well-known and beloved traditional delicacy that we know today after hundreds of years of inheritance and development.

糖 (táng), noun, sugar

Examples:

  1. She added some sugar to her coffee.
    她给咖啡加了些糖。
    tā gěi kā fēi jiā le xiē táng 。
  2. Don't eat too much sugar. It's not good for your teeth.
    别吃太多糖。这对你的牙齿不好。
    bié chī tài duō táng ,zhè duì nǐ de yá chǐ bù hǎo 。 

Traditional Production Method

Making sugar-coated hawthorns is a delicate craft. First, high-quality hawthorns should be selected. Those plump, round, and brightly colored hawthorns are the first choice. After washing and removing the cores of the hawthorns, string them on bamboo sticks.

The boiling of the sugar coating is the key step. Put white granulated sugar or rock sugar into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer slowly over low heat. During the boiling process, the master has to stir constantly until the sugar liquid becomes thick, with a golden and translucent color, presenting an alluring luster.

At this time, quickly roll the strung hawthorns in the sugar liquid to evenly coat them with a layer of crystal-clear sugar coating, and then place them on a chopping board to cool. In a short while, the sugar coating solidifies, like putting a hard and beautiful "glass armor" on the hawthorns.

Unique Taste

The taste of sugar-coated hawthorns is even more intoxicating. When you take the first bite, the first thing you hear is a "crunch", which is the sound of the sugar coating breaking, clear and pleasant. Then, the sweet甜蜜的(tián mì de) and sour taste spreads in your mouth. The sourness of the hawthorn and the sweetness of the sugar coating blend perfectly, sour with a hint of sweet, sweet but not greasy. This unique taste stimulates the taste buds and makes you unable to stop.

甜蜜的 (tián mì de), adjective, sweet

Examples:

  1. She has a sweet smile.
    她有一个甜蜜的微笑。
    tā yǒu yí gè tián mì de wēi xiào 。
  2. They had a sweet life together.
    他们一起过着甜蜜的生活。
    tā men yì qǐ guò zhe tián mì de shēng huó 。 

Each bite is full of layers, with both the firm texture of the hawthorn pulp and the crispy sweetness of the sugar coating. This interwoven taste of sweet and sour is the embodiment of the Chinese people's unique understanding of cuisine.

In the long river of time, sugar-coated hawthorns will continue to exude their charm and write their sweet stories in the streets and lanes. If you have the opportunity to taste this characteristic snack, it is believed that it will definitely bring you sweet memories! 

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