Xiaogan Sesame Candy

Xiaogan Sesame Candy

　　“Xiaogan Sesame Candy” is a renowned local specialty of Hubei Province. It is mainly made from refined glutinous rice, premium sesame seeds, and soft white sugar, along with ingredients like osmanthus and kumquat preserves. Crafted using a traditional formula, it undergoes 12 production processes and 32 steps. Xiaogan Sesame Candy resembles a comb in shape, has a snow-white color, and emits a rich fragrance. It boasts a unique flavor and is highly nutritious, containing protein, glucose, and various vitamins. It is believed to have health benefits such as warming the lungs, nourishing the stomach, supporting the liver, and strengthening the kidneys. Xiaogan Sesame Candy has a long history. Legend has it that Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, once tasted it and was full of praise, which led to it becoming a royal tribute. Later, many regions tried to replicate it, but none could match the taste of the original product from Xiaogan. As a result, the replicas did not survive, and only candy boiled with the “dragon-spitting water” from Chenghuang Pool outside the west gate of Xiaogan’s city wall could produce top-quality sesame candy. No wonder even skilled candy makers from Xiaogan who moved elsewhere were unable to recreate the original flavor. The creation of Xiaogan Sesame Candy is said to be related to a gluttonous candy shop owner’s wife. This wife, having a sweet tooth, often couldn’t resist sneaking candy to eat. One time, while she was enjoying it, she saw the owner entering the room. In a panic, she quickly threw a bowl of candy into a jar of sesame seeds, but the owner caught her. Seeing that the candy was covered with raw sesame seeds, he hesitated to throw it away because it was a waste, yet had no way to clean off the sesame seeds, which made him very angry. At that moment, the gluttonous owner’s wife chimed in, “There’s a way to use it—just pan-fry it, and it tastes really good.” The owner tried it and indeed found it delicious. Later, an experienced candy boiler was inspired by this incident and created Xiaogan Sesame Candy.

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