Tanghulu

Tanghulu(/tɑːŋˈhuːluː/) ortang hulu(traditional Chinese:糖葫蘆;simplified Chinese:糖葫芦;pinyin:táng húlu;lit.'sugar calabash'), also calledbingtang hulu(冰糖葫蘆;冰糖葫芦;bīngtáng húlu; 'rock-sugar calabash'), is a traditionalChinesesnack consisting of severalrock sugarcoated fruits of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) on abambooskewer. It is named for itscalabash-like shape. Tanghulu is calledtangdun'er(simplified Chinese: 糖墩儿) inTianjin,tangqiu(simplified Chinese: 糖球) inFengyang,Anhui, andtangzhan'er(simplified Chinese: 糖蘸儿) inShandong. Tanghulu is often mistaken for regular candied fruits; however, it is coated in a hardened sugar syrup. Tanghulu has been made since theSong dynastyand remains popular throughout northern China.
Chinese hawis the traditional fruit used,though in ancient times other fruits were also used. In records from the Qing dynasty,grapesandwalnutswere added. The pits and seeds of the hawthorn are emptied and are commonly filled withsweet red bean pastebefore being skewered and dipped. In modern times, fruit choices have become more diverse, such ascherry tomatoes,mandarin oranges,strawberries,blueberries,pineapples,kiwifruit, andbananas.
Tanghulu is traditionally a Northern Chinese dessert which was especially famous inBeijing, according to numerousQing dynastyaccounts.Folklore attributes its origin to theSouthern Song dynasty, when the emperorSong Guangzong(simplified Chinese: 宋光宗) had a 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.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.Modern tanghulu is still prepared in the same way, but is skewered on bamboo.
Depending on the fruit used,tanghulu can be rich invitamin C,pectinandchlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,maslinic acid,oleanolic acid,quercetin,ursolic acid,chrysin, epicatechin and otherorganic acidsand nutritional elements.Chinese Hawthorn may have medicinal effects, such as reducing the effects of constipation anddysenteryand loweringblood lipidsandcholesterol, 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.
Each skewer is reported to contain about 20 to 30 grams of sugar, which is close to the recommended daily sugar intake.High amounts of sugar can causediabetes.High volumes of syrup stuck in between the teeth can lead to cavities, and can potentially dislodge resin-bonded teeth anddental implants.
InIncheonand other areas with a high Chinese population, shops selling tanghulu have existed in the country since the early 2000s. In early 2023, tanghulu wentviralon YouTube Shorts andTikTokinSouth Korea. Although the origin of the trend is uncertain, some peopleon the Internet attribute it to Miniyu, a KoreanASMRYouTuber.Gen Zandmillennialswere the primary audiences seen lining up for the dessert.It garnered 210,000 tags onInstagram.The number of stores in South Korea increased from 50 to 300 stores within the span of six months.Its popularity has been attributed to highpopulation densityin metropolitan areas of South Korea where tanghulu may be sold, and the ease at which it is able to be made by businesses or at home.
In 2023, a senator from theDemocratic Party of Koreasummoned the president of Wangga Tanghulu, one of the leading brands of tanghulu, during a national inspection over the issue of extreme sugar intake and diabetes among children and youth, which had increased 20% just within two years.
Tanghulu skewers and paper cups are often foundlitteredon the streets of South Korea. Even when disposed of properly, skewers pierce garbage bags. Businesses, such as internet cafes,noraebangs, and restaurants, have been seen to display "No Tanghulu Zone"signs, banning people from eating or bringing tanghulu into their establishment due to litter.
Demand declined in 2024 due tochanging trends. As the season changed to winter, people started to prefer consuming warm desserts, such as fish-shaped pastries (Beungo-ppang; 붕어빵).The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that 76 tanghulu stores closed in early May, higher than the number of stores closed at the same time last year.