Tanghulu
 Traditional bingtang hulu (Shanghai, 2008) | |
| Alternative names | Bingtang hulu |
|---|---|
| Type | Confections |
| Place of origin | China |
| Region or state | Beijing, Tianjin, and other Northern Chinese cities |
| Main ingredients | Crataegus pinnatifida, sugar syrup |
| 200 kcal (837 kJ) | |
Tanghulu (/tɑːŋˈhuːluː/ ) or tang hulu (traditional Chinese: 糖葫蘆; simplified Chinese: 糖葫芦; pinyin: táng húlu; lit. 'sugar calabash'), also called bingtang hulu (冰糖葫蘆; 冰糖葫芦; bīngtáng húlu; 'rock-sugar calabash'), is a traditional 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 tangdun'er (simplified Chinese: 糖墩儿) in Tianjin, tangqiu (simplified Chinese: 糖球) in Fengyang, Anhui, tangzhan'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 ancient times, vendors have also used various other fruits. For example, in records from the Qing Dynasty, grapes and walnuts were added. In modern times, fruit choices have become more diverse, such as cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwifruit, or bananas. The pits and seeds of the hawthorn are emptied and are commonly filled with sweet red bean paste before being skewered and dipped.
Origin
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Traditionally a Northern Chinese dessert, especially famous in Beijing in numerous Qing dynasty accounts. Earlier legends may be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty, when the emperor Song Guangzong (simplified Chinese: 宋光宗) had a very beloved Imperial concubine named Huang Guifei. One day, when Huang was sick, she refused to eat or drink all day long, and she seemed about to die at any moment. Palace doctors were puzzled as to how to cure her, resulting in Song Guangzong spending an exorbitant amount of money seeking medical help.[3] Later, a doctor came to the palace and treated Huang. He ordered cooks to prepare the hawthorn with rock sugar, advising Huang to 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
[edit]Tanghulu is rich in Vitamin C, pectin and chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, quercetin, ursolic acid, chrysin, epicatechin and other organic acids and nutritional elements. The Chinese Hawthorn may have medicinal effects, such as reducing the effects of constipation and dysentery[citation needed] and lowering blood lipids and cholesterol, and its medicinal properties have been widely asserted in Chinese Medicine books. However, due to its high sugar content, long-term consumption may be unsuitable for diabetics or people with other health conditions.[5]
Gallery
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Strawberry dipped with sugar coating for sale as a bingtang hulu (2004)
South Korea Craze
[edit]In 2023, tanghulu became one of the trendiest desserts in South Korea. Although the stores of this Chinese dessert already existed in the country since the early 2000s, particularly in Incheon and other areas with a high Chinese population, it was only in the early months of 2023 that the dessert went viral on YouTube Shorts and TikTok among younger generations. Although the origin of this trend is uncertain, some people on the internet attribute it to YouTuber Miniyu, a Korean female YouTube creator who uploads ASMR videos. It immediately became the "It" dessert to try out among Gen Z and millennials, who lined up for hours to get their hands on those skewered, sugar-coated fruits. Its popularity was evidenced by the 210,000 tags on Instagram alone. The number of stores across the country also saw a sharp increase, from 50 to 300 stores within the span of six months. Although there are many reasonable explanations behind the explosive popularity of this dessert in the country, the largest contributor is the highly concentrated population in a comparatively small land mass, enabling people to hop on the bandwagon in a relatively small amount of time and with little effort. South Koreans also have a strong propensity for conformity, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) plays a large part in the spread of a fad.
Problems
[edit]Consequently, as tanghulu gained traction, a handful of health experts actively discussed its health risks due to the usage of white sugar to coat the fruits for its signature glossy look. Each skewer is reported to contain about 20 to 30 grams of sugar on average, which is close to the recommended daily sugar intake. Its chewy and crispy texture of the glassy sugar also poses a problem to the dental health of consumers. As it is eaten by chewing the processed sugar and fruit together, its sticky texture leaves a strong pressure on the consumer's teeth. The syrup stuck in between the teeth also can lead to cavities. More graver issues can be expected from it, such as the plucking out of resin-bonded teeth and dental implants. In addition, high amounts of white sugar can cause diabetes and other related risks.[6] This health-related issue became a hot potato, particularly among children and youth in the country. In 2023, a senator from the Democratic Party of Korea decided to summon the president of Wangga Tanghulu, one of the leading brands of tanghulu, in the national inspection over the issue of extreme sugar intake and diabetes among children and youth, which increased 20% just within two years.[7]
Another significant problem that arose from the fad is related to the massive disposal of tanghulu skewers on the streets. Because the fruits are inserted in an elongated wooden stick and supported by a paper cup, the streets were littered with sticks and paper cups to the extent that angry owners of other businesses (such as internet cafes, noraebangs, and restaurants) put out "No Tanghulu Zone"[8] signs that banned people from eating or bringing tanghulus in their establishments. The spiky ends of the wooden sticks exacerbated the garbage issue as even the properly disposed sticks poked out and tore the garbage plastic bags on the streets.
In 2024, the craze started to die down as a result of the aforementioned health and social problems and the quickly changing nature of trends in the country. The weather also played a big part in it. As winter came, people started to prefer consuming hot and warm desserts, such as fish-shaped pastries (Beungo-ppang; 붕어빵). This demand decline naturally impacted the business sector, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that 76 tanghulu stores closed in early May, which is higher than the number of store closed last year.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Timothy G. Roufs Ph.D.; Kathleen Smyth Roufs (29 July 2014). Sweet Treats around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-61069-221-2. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ Mary Choate and Aaron Brachfeld (31 August 2015). At Home in Nature, a user's guide. Coastalfields Press. p. 315. GGKEY:K5213DDZJD2. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "冰糖葫芦不平凡的来历：从宫廷美食到常见小吃". hlj.ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ 美食玉馔 (1970-01-01). "酸甜可口的冰糖葫芦，起源于宋朝皇妃的"富贵病"". k.sina.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ 华龙网 (2018-01-30). "冰糖葫芦营养价值大科普". news.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ "Is Tanghulu Bad For You? - Here Is Your Answer". www.isitbadforyou.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "소아당뇨 염려에…'왕가탕후루' 대표 국감 간다". 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "끈적이고 벌레 꼬이고…쓰레기 몸살에 '노 탕후루존' 등장". 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Daily, The Chosun (2024-05-12). "South Korea's Tanghulu craze fades, 17 franchisees sigh over decline". The Chosun Daily. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
External links
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Media related to Tanghulu at Wikimedia Commons