eight-immortals: Tanghulu (糖葫芦; táng húlú; literally “sugar gourd”)
eight-immortals: Tanghulu (糖葫芦; táng húlú; literally “sugar gourd”)A favorite winter snack of children in northern China. The snack seems to date back to the Song Dynasty. Back then, the Imperial concubine of Emperor Guangzong fell sick and doctors couldn’t cure her. However, a doctor from outside the palace volunteered. He prescribed haws simmered in sugar and water. Before every meal the concubine would eat them and miraculously recovered. The common people heard about the recipe and vendors began putting haws on bamboo skewers and dipping them in sugar. They sold them as snacks and so they became to be the first Tanghulu we know. Nowadays they are still popular and have become an auspicious symbol and highlight of the traditional temple fairs held during the Lunar New Year holidays in Beijing. -- source link