This should be a famous street snack that has experienced dynasties. In ancient hutongs, many novels and essays are mentioned.

Origin of Candied haws

During Song Shaoxi’s reign, Huang high-ranked imperial concubine, Zhao Ting’s favorite, became ill. She became thinner and thinner and doesn’t think about diet. The imperial medicine used many valuable medicines, but no effect was seen. The emperor looked haggard when he saw his beloved concubine, and frowned all day long. In the end, had no choice but to seek medical advice. A doctor revealed the list and entered the palace. After examining Huang high-ranked imperial concubine’s pulse, he said: “Just use rock sugar and red fruit (hawthorn) to torment, eat five to ten before each meal, and you will be well within half a month.” At first, everyone will be suspicious, but fortunately, this way of eating is still in line with the noble concubine’s taste. After taking this method, the noble concubine is cured as expected. The emperor was naturally overjoyed .

Later, this practice spread to the people, and the common people stringed hawthorn up and sold it, and it became candied haws. It turns out that hawthorn has many medicinal effects. It can eliminate food accumulation, disperse blood congestion, stop dysentery, and especially aid digestion. It has been an important medicine for eliminating food accumulation since ancient times, and is especially good at eliminating flesh accumulation.

Practice of Candied haws

First, prepare the hawthorn and clean it to dry for later use. Prepare the pot. The pot can be used in the home cooking pot, iron or aluminum pot. Then prepare the sugar. The sugar can be white granulated sugar, rock sugar or soft white sugar. Put a few bamboo sticks or chopsticks in a cup of cold water, and prepare a smooth board for oiling or non-stick board. It is also necessary to prepare two kinds of non-chemical auxiliary materials. After adding this plant auxiliary material, the candied haws can not convert sugar for about one day in summer and about three days in winter. After they are ready, the operation will be carried out.

• Sugar water ratio

One catty of sugar, half a catty of water or one centimeter of water over the sugar noodles, the water can be cold water or hot water.Boil sugar

• Boil sugar

Turn on the fire to boil the sugar. At first, use a high fire. The height of the flame should not exceed the height of the domestic water surface. After the fire is turned on, use a bamboo stick or chopsticks to stir in the pot. After a few minutes of boiling in the pot, we need to add the first non-condensed sugar auxiliary material. While adding it, stir with bamboo sticks or chopsticks to make the non-condensed sugar auxiliary material fully dissolve into the sugar solution. After all the non-condensed sugar auxiliary material is dissolved, stop stirring. After about two minutes, the sugar liquid in the pot became a bit viscous. At this time, we added the second auxiliary material and kept stirring while adding it to fully dissolve the sugar liquid. (In particular, the auxiliary materials we use are pure plant-derived auxiliary materials, not chemical additives, nor chemical additives such as gelatin, glass brittle, citric acid, etc.). After adding the second auxiliary material, we wait for the pot to boil again and turn the heat to medium. Boiled sugar liquid.

There are several characteristics of sugar boiled well: the first is that after the sugar is boiled, you can smell a sugar scent, the second you can see the sugar in the pot is slightly yellow, and the third pot has become particularly dense from the large bubbles at the beginning. The small bubble has several characteristics. After the sugar is boiled, we use bamboo sticks to stick the sugar in the pot and quickly put it in cold water to cool it, and then put it in the mouth to taste the sugar. The sugar inside is crispy and not sticky to the teeth, indicating that the sugar is ready. If you taste the sugar sticky or not crispy, it means that the sugar has not been cooked in place. At this time, you need to continue to cook and try the sugar. After the sugar is crispy, we will put it at this time. Turn the heat to low, and then you can go to the sticky haws or fruit skewers. Turn off the heat after sticking.

• Technical summary

Hawthorn is made of high-quality, insect-free, clean it before use. If the heat is not in place, it may cause the failure of the boiled sugar.