Phoenix Ginger Candy

Phoenix Ginger Candy

Phoenix Ginger Candy is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　　　The formation of ginger candy as a specialty originated from a folk remedy in Phoenix used to treat colds and chills. People eat grains and toil year-round, and when they catch a chill, illness is inevitable. For such minor ailments, locals in Phoenix generally do not seek doctors but instead help themselves—slicing a few pieces of ginger, mixing them with brown sugar, and simmering them in an earthenware bowl. Once it reaches the right heat, they take it with hot broth, cover themselves with a thick quilt, sweat profusely, and feel refreshed and restored to health.

　　　　Called ginger candy, its main ingredients are ginger and sugar. Ginger is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Hence, the ancient dietary wisdom goes: “Women should eat lotus root every three days, men should eat ginger every three days; a slice of ginger in the morning is better than ginseng soup; regularly eating radish and ginger makes doctors unnecessary...”

　　　　Given that ginger has so many benefits, some clever ancestors in Phoenix began making it into solid candy pills that could be stored. In their leisure time, they would often suck on one or two pieces to relieve dry mouth, bitter taste, and guard against chills. Over time, the craft of making ginger candy became more refined, and wealthier families further researched adding a range of health-beneficial herbs. As a result, ginger candy evolved into a treasured, secret family recipe among Phoenix households, naturally becoming the go-to health candy for locals. It then entered the market, becoming a primary livelihood for some. Around the founding of the People’s Republic, there were many ginger candy workshops in the ancient city of Phoenix, with children and women selling it door-to-door in baskets. Along the streets, it was common to see both adults and children happily sucking on ginger candy.

　　　　Phoenix Ginger Candy has been passed down since the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, circulating continuously in western Hunan until it disappeared in the 1960s. During the lean years of the three-year famine, people had little to eat, farmers stopped growing ginger, and sugar supplies were cut off, leaving no materials to make the candy. For nearly four decades, ginger candy vanished from the market.

　　　　By the end of the 20th century, after China’s reform and opening-up had swept the nation for nearly 20 years, this long-forgotten rarity—Phoenix Ginger Candy—was brought back to the market like an antique. Though venturing cautiously, it managed to stand its ground amid a sea of foreign-packaged sweets and won people’s affection.

　　　　Today, Phoenix Ginger Candy is thriving in the market. Locals in Phoenix don’t like to flaunt their wealth—they prefer to enjoy the nutrition within. When asked how much income the workshops make from ginger candy, the owners just smile without answering. But their moist lips and flushed cheeks reveal that they are neither short of money nor food. They don’t complain about poverty but smile, and those smiles hint at substantial earnings.