The candied fruit snack called tanghulu has become a sugary snack that many people have been interested in trying.
Tanghulu has a long history, but has recently seen a significant rise in popularity with people trying the treatment in social media videos.
The candied fruit is aesthetically pleasing and is traditionally served on a skewer with a sheen due to the sugary layer surrounding it.
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Many also enjoy the satisfying crunch you hear when biting into the fruit.
Do you want to try tanghulu?
Tanghulu has become a viral dessert to make at home with its growing presence on social media. (Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Below are expert tips on how to create this sweet treat.
- What is tanghulu?
- What does tanghulu taste like?
- How do you make tanghulu?
1. What is tanghulu?
“Tanghulu is a fruit candy popularized in the Southern Song Dynasty,” Ivy Chen, chef and owner of Tang Hulu in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
“It is made by covering skewers of fruits such as hawthorns or strawberries with a layer of maltose candy,” he also said.
Chen highlighted the tanghulu's presentation and its crunchy texture as facets that make the dessert stand out from others.
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“The texture contrast and visually appealing presentation, along with the sweet, crunchy coating and the natural juiciness of the fruits inside, make tanghulu so unique and special,” Chen said.
2. What does tanghulu taste like?
The flavor profile you get from a bite of tanghulu will vary slightly depending on the type of fruit used to prepare it.
Strawberries and hawthorn are common fruits, but there are many other options to experiment with, such as clementines or grapes.
Tanghulu provides a satisfying crunch with every bite. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
“The taste of tanghulu is a delicious combination of sweet and spicy with a crunchy texture coming from a hardened caramel coating,” Chen said.
“Depending on the fruits used, [it] can range from slightly sweet to intensely savory.”
3. How to make tanghulu?
The process of making tanghulu is similar to that of making chocolate-covered strawberries, Chen said.
“The process involves repeatedly dipping fruit skewers into hot sugar syrup, almost like making chocolate-covered strawberries,” Chen said.
“The key is to cook the sugar until it's hard.”
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If you want to try making tanghulu at home, Chen highlighted some tips that can help you create the candied dessert with ease.
When choosing fruit to use for tanghulu, less ripe fruits should be “selected to balance the sweetness of the sugar with the natural sourness of the fruit,” Chen said.
Before you start heating the sugar, make sure you have all the fruit prepped on the skewers and ready to go. Chen also said that having ice and burn gel nearby isn't a bad idea in case of unfortunate sugar burns.
When making tanghulu, be sure to dry the fruit before dipping it in sugar to get that thick, sugary coating. (Mu Yu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
When it comes to fruit preparation, Chen said to opt for room temperature fruit if you want a thinner sugar peel and cold fruits if you prefer a thicker peel. You'll also want to make sure the fruit is thoroughly dried before dipping to achieve that satisfying, crispy peel.
Also, make sure your work environment is oil-free, Chen said, as oil can cause sugar to recrystallize.
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“When the temperature reaches 340 degrees Fahrenheit, rotate the pot a few times and test again to make sure the sugar is heated evenly,” Chen said. “Then check the temperature again to make sure it's cooked to the desired level.”
“Avoid excessive agitation, as it can also lead to recrystallization,” he continued.
If your tanghulu doesn't come out perfect the first time, don't give up.
Sometimes there may be a learning curve to overcome when making dessert, but with practice, you'll be enjoying the sugary fruit in no time.
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