糖葫芦 Tanghulu 最初为宫廷药膳

中文介绍

糖葫芦是中国极具代表性的传统小吃，历史可追溯至南宋时期，最初为宫廷药膳，后逐渐流传至民间，成为跨越千年、深受各年龄段喜爱的街头美食，尤其在北方地区的秋冬季节最为常见。

其经典制作方式以新鲜山楂为核心原料，先将山楂洗净、去核（部分会保留果核或夹入馅料），用竹签按大小均匀串成串，每串通常有 5-8 颗山楂；随后将白砂糖与水按比例混合，放入锅中以小火熬煮，期间需不断搅拌至糖浆呈琥珀色、能拉出细丝且滴入冷水中可迅速凝固的状态；最后将山楂串快速裹满滚烫的糖浆，放入通风处冷却片刻，待糖浆凝固成晶莹剔透的糖壳，外层再裹上一层糯米纸防止粘手，一份酸甜可口的糖葫芦便制作完成。武夷山特产网 www.chinawys.com

随着时代发展，糖葫芦的品类不断创新，除了经典山楂口味，还衍生出多种变体：有的会在山楂去核后夹入豆沙、芝麻、核桃、杏仁等馅料，丰富口感层次；有的则用草莓、葡萄、猕猴桃、圣女果、橘子瓣等新鲜水果替代山楂，形成色彩鲜艳、口味多样的 “水果糖葫芦”，满足不同人群的口味需求。

糖葫芦不仅口感独特 —— 咬开酥脆的糖壳，内里是酸甜软糯的果肉，甜而不腻、酸中带爽，还蕴含一定的营养价值，山楂本身富含维生素 C、有机酸等成分。在寒冷的街头，手持一串裹着糖霜、冒着丝丝凉气的糖葫芦，既是味蕾的享受，也是许多人关于童年、节日的温暖记忆符号。

糖葫芦  Tanghulu

English Introduction

Tanghulu, also known as Chinese Sugar-Coated Hawthorns, is a iconic traditional snack in China with a history dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Initially developed as a medicinal food in the imperial court, it later spread to the general public and has become a beloved street food that has transcended millennia, cherished by people of all ages. It is particularly popular in northern China during the autumn and winter seasons.

The classic preparation method centers on fresh hawthorns. First, the hawthorns are cleaned and pitted (some may retain their pits or be stuffed with fillings), then skewered evenly on bamboo sticks, with 5 to 8 hawthorns per stick typically. Next, white granulated sugar and water are mixed in a specific ratio and boiled in a pot over low heat. The mixture is constantly stirred until the syrup turns amber, can be pulled into thin threads, and solidifies quickly when dropped into cold water. Finally, the hawthorn skewers are rapidly dipped into the boiling syrup to coat them evenly, then placed in a well-ventilated area to cool for a moment. Once the syrup hardens into a translucent, crispy shell, a layer of rice paper is wrapped around the outside to prevent sticking, and a delicious tanghulu with a perfect balance of sweet and sour is ready.武夷山特产网 www.chinawys.com

With the passage of time, the variety of tanghulu has continued to innovate. Beyond the classic hawthorn flavor, many variations have emerged: some have pitted hawthorns stuffed with fillings like red bean paste, sesame seeds, walnuts, or almonds to enhance the texture; others replace hawthorns with fresh fruits such as strawberries, grapes, kiwis, cherry tomatoes, or orange segments, creating “fruit tanghulu” that is vibrant in color and diverse in taste, catering to different flavor preferences.

Tanghulu not only boasts a unique taste — biting through the crispy sugar shell reveals the sweet, sour, and soft flesh inside, which is sweet without being cloying and sour with a refreshing finish — but also contains certain nutritional value. Hawthorns themselves are rich in vitamin C, organic acids, and other nutrients. On a cold street, holding a skewer of tanghulu, with its frosty sugar coating and a hint of coolness, is not only a delight for the taste buds but also a warm symbol of childhood memories and festival moments for many people.