Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese street food made from hawthorn berries coated in a hardened sugar syrup. It is a popular snack during the winter months, as hawthorn berries are in season from November to February. Tanghulu is also a popular gift during the Chinese New Year.
The process of making tanghulu is relatively simple. First, the hawthorn berries are washed and cleaned. Then, they are skewered onto bamboo sticks. The sugar syrup is then made by boiling sugar and water together until it reaches the hard-crack stage. The skewered hawthorn berries are then dipped into the sugar syrup and allowed to cool. The sugar syrup will harden and form a protective coating around the berries.