I was first introduced to tanghulu a few months ago, during the wee hours of the morning. While mindlessly scrolling through my social media feeds, I came across an ASMR video of a creator unwrapping and biting into skewers of glossy, candied fruits. An array of whole peeled tangerines, strawberries, hawthorn berries and green and red grapes glistened on my phone screen like jewels you only admire but can’t touch. I’ve never craved anything more than tanghulu in that glorious moment.
The traditional Chinese street snack became an internet sensation early last year, however, its origins date back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Legend has it that when the emperor's favorite concubine fell ill, a two-week diet of sugar-coated hawthorn berries ultimately healed her. Today, in China, tanghulu is no longer revered for its supposed medicinal benefits — it’s a festive food commonly enjoyed to usher in good luck around the new year and Lunar New Year.
