Honey-Glazed Fresh Peaches

Honey-Glazed Fresh Peaches

　　Origin: Hebei, China. History: The Shenze honey peaches from Hebei are the finest fresh peaches in China. They are large in size (about 250 grams each), beautifully shaped, with thin skin and delicate flesh. Their juice is as sweet as honey, and they were once tribute fruits enjoyed by emperors throughout history. The "Shenze County Annals" record: "In the Han Dynasty, the best peaches in the northern lands were from Shenze," and "The peaches of Shenze, the embroidery of Raoyang, and the silk of Anping were all unique treasures of their respective regions." Chefs in Shenze use these peaches to prepare distinctive Hebei-style dishes such as "Candied Peaches," "Crystal Peaches," and "Imperial Birthday Peaches," among which the "Honey-Glazed Fresh Peaches" are considered the best. Characteristics: Made from Shenze honey peaches simmered with sugar. They have a snowy white color, rich fruity aroma, and are sweet and delicate in taste. Preparation: Wash an appropriate amount of fresh peaches, remove the pits, then cut each into five pieces. Briefly blanch them in boiling water to remove the skin. In a pan, add an appropriate amount of water and sugar, melt the sugar, skim off any foam, add the peaches, and simmer over low heat until the syrup thickens and tightly coats the peaches. Sprinkle with diced hawthorn before serving.

( Hejian)