Picture a young child’s eyes widening with delight as they watch a skilled artisan work their magic, transforming a simple lump of sugar into a mesmerizing masterpiece. That was me, entranced by the skillful hands that crafted Dragon’s Beard Candy (龍鬚糖), one of my all-time favourite childhood treats. I still remember the sweet, melt-in-your-mouth feeling of those delicate sugary strands, even after all these years. It’s like a tasty memory that never fades.

In the heart of China’s culinary heritage lies a sweet secret, a treat that bridges centuries of tradition with an exquisite sugar-spun artistry – Dragon’s Beard Candy. Join me as we uncover the fascinating story behind this treat and explore the meticulous process that goes into making it.

Tracing the Threads: The Rich History of Dragon’s Beard Candy

Dragon’s Beard Candy, a timeless Chinese delicacy, boasts a fascinating history deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Originating during the Han Dynasty, this delectable treat, which can only be made by hand, was initially reserved for royalty and elites due to its intricate preparation. This exquisite treat is made by meticulously stretching a sugary syrup into thousands of fine, silky strands. The thin strands from the candy often gets stuck to the chin when eaten, reminding the Emperor of a dragon’s beard. It later became popular amongst other classes as an artisan treat. With a rich historical heritage, it has endured as a symbol of craftsmanship and culinary artistry, offering a sweet connection to China’s past that continues to delight taste buds around the world today.

Nurtured by Nostalgia

Dragon’s Beard Candy has a cozy spot in my childhood memories, nestled right in my heart. Each year, my sister and I eagerly looked forward to Lunar New Year, not just for the celebrations, but also for the joy of savouring these tasty treats. Our little tradition involved heading to Pacific Mall, where we knew we’d find the most scrumptious ones.

This year, I finally mustered the courage to give it a shot and attempted to make Dragon’s Beard Candy on my own. To my surprise, my little one, totally intrigued by the whole thing, jumped right in to help (as he saw me struggling to pull). Believe it or not, he had a knack for pulling those fine strands, way better than I did! The kitchen ended up in a cornflour chaos, but who cares? We had an absolute blast, and that’s what truly matters, right?

To be honest, I likely wouldn’t have ventured into making this if it weren’t for the Thermomix. Its sugar stage function simplified the candy-making process. With its precise temperature control, it ensured that the sugar reached the desired stage without the risk of sugar crystallization, which is crucial for many sugar-based recipes like caramel and candy-making. The Thermomix can consistently achieve the specified sugar stage with accuracy, which can be challenging to achieve manually on a stovetop due to variations in heat sources and human error, thus, allowing users to achieve professional-quality results with confidence and reliability.

Creating Dragon’s Beard Candy is not for the faint of heart; it’s a physically demanding task that requires serious muscle power and some real grit. It involves stretching and folding a sugar syrup into fine strands, which becomes more challenging as the strands become thinner. It intensifies with each pull, pushing your arms to their limits. But you know what? Despite the challenge, my little one kept going. He definitely enjoyed it and did much better than I did. The result is not just a sweet delight, but also a true display of human craftsmanship.

In the end, making Dragon’s Beard Candy became more than just cooking; it was about creating memories and celebrating tradition. As I watched my little one take on this ancient art with enthusiasm, it reinforced the idea that it’s not just about the candy, but the bonds and lessons it brings. So, when you enjoy a piece of Dragon’s Beard Candy next time, savour the shared experience and the joy of craftsmanship in every strand.

Ingredients:

For the sugar syrup:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup corn syrup or glucose syrup

For the filling:

• 1 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar)

For dusting:

• cornstarch or potato starch

1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, water, and corn syrup (or glucose syrup).
2. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
3. Once the mixture starts to boil, stop stirring and allow it to cook until it reaches the hard-crack stage (around 300°F or 150°C on a candy thermometer).
4. Remove from heat immediately and let it cool for a few minutes until it’s safe to handle but still pliable.
5. Pour the mixture into doughnut-shaped silicone molds and let it cool to room temperature.
6. Once the sugar mixture is cooled, remove it from the mold and dip it into a tray of cornstarch, making sure to coat it well.
7. Begin pulling the sugar syrup, stretching it between your hands until it’s gotten much bigger. Then fold it into a figure 8 and start pulling again while dipping it into the cornstarch. Continue this process until it becomes white and opaque.
8. Continue the process of pulling, dipping, and shaping into a figure-eight until the strands transform into a thin, hair-like consistency.
9. Combine the finely chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, desiccated coconut, and icing sugar in a bowl.
10. Take one of the pulled sugar strands and gently flatten it on a cornstarch-dusted surface.
11. Place a small amount of the filling mixture onto the flattened sugar strand.
12. Fold the sugar over the filling and roll it into a cylindrical shape, sealing the edges.
13. Roll the cut pieces in cornstarch or potato starch to prevent sticking.
14. Dragon Beard Candy is best enjoyed fresh, so serve and savor your homemade treats immediately.

Note: Dragon Beard Candy can be a bit tricky to make, especially for beginners. It’s important to work quickly and handle the sugar strands with care, as they can become brittle if overworked. Practice and patience will help you master this delightful confectionery art.

Ingredients for Thermomix:

• 200 g cornflour (starch)
• 1050 g water
• 80 g glucose syrup
• 220 g sugar
• peanut powder (or black sesame powder), to taste

Thermomix Instructions:

1. To guarantee the success of recipes using Sugar Stages mode, the ingredients used must match exactly the quantity and description given. The recipe should also be cooked immediately after placing the sugar with the other ingredients in the mixing bowl.
2. Place cornflour in mixing bowl, cook without measuring cup 15 min/Varoma/speed 1.5. Transfer to a deep rectangular baking dish. Clean mixing bowl.
3. Place 50 g water, glucose syrup and sugar in mixing bowl, place splash guard on top of mixing bowl lid, start Sugar Stages. Transfer to a 6-hole doughnut tray, let cool to room temperature until it has set. Immediately scrape the syrup off the rim of mixing bowl with spatula so that mixing bowl lid can be securely closed.
4. Place 1000 g water in mixing bowl, start Pre-clean /Fat or caramel.
5. Take a sugar doughnut, place it into the dish with cooked cornflour, fully coat with cornflour and pull it while turning it into a 8-shape, while coat and pull to avoid the sugar strands sticking to each other, repeat about 16 times until it is as thin as hair, cut off a portion of sugar strands (about 10 cm), place 1 tsp peanut powder or black sesame powder and roll it up. Serve immediately.

Dragon Beard Candy https://cookidoo.ca/recipes/recipe/en-CA/r734526