During the reign of Shao Xi, Huang Guifei, the favorite of Song Guangzong, was ill, sallow and emaciated, and did not think about food. The imperial doctor in the palace used a lot of expensive drugs, but none of them worked. When the emperor saw that Huang Guifei was getting thinner, he was also sad all day, so he had to post a royal list for medical treatment. A quack tore off the imperial order and entered the palace to feel the pulse of the imperial concubine. He said: "As long as you use rock sugar and red fruits, take five to ten tablets before each meal, and it will be fine within half a month." After taking this medicine, the imperial concubine really recovered.

Sugar-coated haws, also known as sugar-coated haws, are called sugar piers in Tianjin and sugar balls in Fengyang, Anhui. It is a traditional snack in China, which originated in the Southern Song Dynasty. Wild fruits are strung together with bamboo sticks and then wrapped in malt syrup, which will harden in the wind. This kind of snack is a common snack in northern winter. Generally made of hawthorn, it tastes sour and sweet.

With the development of the times, candied haws can be made of banana candied haws, candied dates candied haws, strawberry candied haws, pepper candied haws, garlic candied haws, spicy candied haws and so on.

Related instructions

In the Song Dynasty, the ancient practice began. The Chronicle of Yanjing Years Old records that candied haws are made of bamboo sticks, filled with hawthorn, begonia fruit, grapes, yam, walnut kernel and bean paste, and dipped in rock sugar, which is sweet, crisp and cold. Teahouses, theaters, streets and alleys can be seen everywhere, and now they have become traditional snacks in China.

The earliest manufacturers and sellers of sugar-coated haws are the old shops selling honey fruits such as "the fountain of youth", "Jiulong Zhai", "Xinyuanzhai" and "Quanfu". Originally located in Qianmen Street and East Liulichang, "Jiulong Zhai" and "Xinyuanzhai" were the first to sell individual red fruit begonia sugar balls, which were deeply loved by the people. During the Republic of China, the most famous candied haws were made and sold by Longji Food Store in the south gate of Dongan Market.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Sugar Hulu