Skewers of glazed fruit (mainly hawthorn)
Tanghulu () or Tang hulu (simplified Chinese: 糖葫芦; traditional Chinese: 糖葫蘆; pinyin: táng húlu; lit. 'sugar calabash'), also called bingtang hulu (冰糖葫芦; 冰糖葫蘆; bīngtáng húlu; 'rock-sugar calabash'), is a traditional Northern Chinese snack consisting of several rock sugar-coated fruits of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) on a bamboo skewer. It is named for its calabash-like shape. Tanghulu is called Tang dun er (simplified Chinese: 糖墩儿) in Tianjin, Tang qiu (simplified Chinese: 糖球) in Fengyang, Anhui, Tang zhan er (simplified Chinese: 糖蘸儿) in Shandong. Tanghulu is often mistaken for regular candied fruits; however, it is coated in a hardened sugar syrup. This sweet and sour treat has been made since the Song Dynasty and remains popular throughout northern China.[1]
Chinese hawthorn is the traditional fruit used for the skewering of fruit,[2] but in recent times vendors have also used various other fruits, such as cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwifruit, bananas, or grapes. The pits and seeds of the hawthorn are emptied out and are commonly filled with sweet red bean paste before being skewered and dipped.
Origin
During the Southern Song Dynasty, the emperor Song Guangzong (simplified Chinese: 宋光宗) had a very beloved Imperial concubine named Huang Guifei. However, one day, Huang was sick, she refused to eat or drink all day long, and it seemed like she was about to die at any moment. The palace doctors all had no ideas how to cure her, so Song Guangzong spent a lot of money to seek for medical help.[3] Later, a doctor came to the palace and treated Huang. He ordered people to cook the hawthorn, with rock sugar and have Huang take five to ten of them before each meal. Surprisingly, after a few days, Huang gradually recovered. Everyone thought this method was quite novel, so the prescription was passed down. Later, people began to string the fruit together and sell it on the street, which is now known as tanghulu.[4]
Nutrition values and Cautions
Tanghulu is rich in Vitamin C, pectin and chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, hawthorn acid, zithromax acid, quercetin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, chrysin, epicatechin and other organic acids and nutritional elements. Tanghulu has no coloring or food additives, with good taste. It is a kind of natural nutritious food. The Chinese Hawthorn has many medicinal effects, it can eliminate food stagnation and stop dysentery, especially to help digestion. It has become an important medicine since ancient times. in addition, hawthorn can lower blood lipids, lower cholesterol and other effects. However, not everyone is suitable for long-term eating tanghulu. Because it contains rock sugar, diabetics should eat with caution. People with weak spleen and stomach and heartburn should not eat too much hawthorn tanghulu.[5]
