摘要：The Sweet and Tangy Delight: A Brief History and Recipe of Candy-Coated Hawthorn
If you have ever strolled around a Chinese festival or market, you might have e
The Sweet and Tangy Delight: A Brief History and Recipe of Candy-Coated Hawthorn
If you have ever strolled around a Chinese festival or market, you might have encountered this quintessential sweet snack that awakens your taste buds - the candy-coated hawthorn skewered on bamboo sticks, better known as ice sugar gourd, or bing tang hu lu (冰糖葫芦) in Chinese. This timeless delicacy has been enjoyed for centuries by people across all ages and regions of China, and there's no doubt that its popularity is only growing among global foodies and candy enthusiasts. In this article, we'll delve into the history, regional variations, and step-by-step recipe of making the irresistible ice sugar gourd.
The Roots and Evolvement of Bing Tang Hu Lu
Hawthorn (山楂 shān zhā), a small, red fruit that is sour and astringent when raw, has been a popular ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine since ancient times due to its numerous health benefits, including improving digestion, reducing blood lipids, and boosting immunity. However, it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) that the hawthorn was first turned into a candied snack. Du Fu, a famous Tang poet, once wrote in his poem that he saw a peddler selling \"crystal-clear hawthorns on a stick,\" which were believed to be skewered on jujube branches, with candy coating \"as red as fire\" that looked \"like wax.\" This depicts the prototype of bing tang hu lu, which was once only consumed by the noble and merchant classes as a luxurious treat during festive occasions, such as the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
Over time, the recipe and variations of the ice sugar gourd have evolved to adapt to different tastes and preferences across China. In Northern China, the hawthorn is usually threaded onto a thin bamboo stick with other fruits, such as guava, orange, and kiwi, before being dipped several times into a boiling solution of malt sugar (麦芽糖 mài yá táng) and water until it forms a hard sugar shell. In Southern China, the hawthorn is typically coated with sugar syrup (糖蜜 táng mì) that is infused with various flavors, such as green tea, rose, black sesame, and even cheese. Nowadays, you can find all sorts of creative twists on bing tang hu lu, such as using strawberries, grapes, cherry tomatoes, and even hot dogs as the core ingredient.
How to Make the Perfect Bing Tang Hu Lu at Home
If you're craving for some mouth-watering bing tang hu lu but can't find a vendor near you, fret not! Making this sweet and tangy delight at home is much simpler than you think (although it requires some patience and skills).
Ingredients:
- 500g fresh hawthorn berries
- 400g sugar
- 100g water
- Bamboo skewers
Directions:
- Wash the hawthorn berries and remove the stems and seeds; carefully pat them dry with a towel.
- Thread 5-7 berries onto each bamboo skewer, leaving some space at the bottom for holding.
- In a pot, add sugar and water and heat over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Lower the heat and gently simmer the sugar syrup without stirring until it reaches 150°C (hard crack stage). You can use a candy thermometer to check the temperature, or drop a tiny amount of syrup into a cup of cold water, and if it forms a hard lump, it's ready.
- Dip each skewer with hawthorn berries into the syrup and twirl it around to coat evenly. Let the excess syrup drip off for a few seconds before placing it on a sheet of greased parchment paper (to prevent sticking).
- Repeat the dipping process until you achieve the desired thickness of the sugar shell. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds or chopped nuts on top of the syrup before it hardens for added texture and flavor.
- Let the bing tang hu lu cool and harden at room temperature before serving or storing them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Voila! You now have your own batch of homemade bing tang hu lu that you can savor with your friends and family. Don't forget to take some photos and share them on social media to inspire others to try making this delectable treat at home.
Whether you're a fan of sweets, fruits, or Chinese culture, you can't miss out on the enchanting experience of indulging in a stick of candy-coated hawthorn that strikes a balance between sourness and sweetness, crunchiness and chewiness, tradition and innovation. Next time you're in China or at a Chinese-themed event, look out for the charming peddlers with a basket of fresh bing tang hu lu, and immerse yourself in the centuries of history and cultural fusion behind this timeless joy.
