Lotus Root Thread Candy

Lotus Root Thread Candy

　　During the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, in Shenqiao, Cixi, there lived an expert in confectionery named Shen Yongfeng. Skilled in business and adept at making fine pastries, he had gained some local fame. On the eve of the Spring Festival in the third year of Yongzheng (1725), Shen Yongfeng introduced a new type of sweet treat with a unique flavor that quickly became popular among the locals. Later, Shen Yongfeng further refined the production process through careful experimentation, eventually developing the perfect recipe. The candy he produced was cylindrical in shape, about the thickness of a human finger and no longer than three inches. What amazed people was that this slender candy stick featured dozens of tiny, neatly arranged holes running along its length, resembling the cross-section of a lotus root. As a result, this treat came to be known as Lotus Root Thread Candy.

Lotus Root Thread Candy is made from premium ingredients including refined white glutinous rice, high-quality malt, fine white sesame seeds, superfine white sugar, and Nanjing snow hemp. Beyond selecting top-quality materials, its preparation requires meticulous attention to detail. For instance, the sesame seeds must be hulled. The production also emphasizes seasonal timing, strictly requiring that the candy only be made during winter when temperatures do not exceed 10°C. As for roasting the ingredients, the control of heat is paramount—only firewood from mountain trees may be used, never coal or other fuels. The stretching and airing of the candy dough is a truly remarkable skill that showcases the craftsmanship behind the candy and is key to determining the quality of the final product. During this step, the most crucial aspect is controlling the force of air blown into the candy dough. A skilled technician can, with a single expert puff, inflate the entire dough strand to form numerous small holes of varying sizes—these very holes give Lotus Root Thread Candy its ideal crispness and flakiness.

Sanbei Lotus Root Thread Candy is crisp, delicious, and leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth with a taste that's endlessly satisfying. It suits all ages. Since its creation, it has maintained enduring fame and become a traditional, high-quality delicacy of Cixi. In the late Qing Dynasty, the candy was brought into the imperial court by someone from Sanbei and quickly won the favor of Empress Dowager Cixi. It was soon listed as an “imperial food,” with local authorities ordered to send annual tributes to the royal court. From then on, the fame of Sanbei Lotus Root Thread Candy spread far and wide. It’s said that many confectionery shops in Shanghai at the time competed to hang signs advertising “Sanbei Tea Sweets” to flaunt their prestige and attract customers.

In the late 19th century, Sanbei Lotus Root Thread Candy was brought to Japan and Southeast Asia by overseas merchants from the “Sanbei Group,” where it also gained great popularity. Wu Jintang even selected it as a gift for the Japanese Emperor, earning praise from the Japanese royal family. Today, many overseas visitors come to the hometown of Lotus Root Thread Candy, drawn by its fame. They often purchase large quantities to bring back as gifts for family and friends. The renown of Sanbei Lotus Root Thread Candy spreads far and wide indeed!(Cixi)