Candied Taro (Fansha Yutou)

Candied Taro (Fansha Yutou)

　　　Fansha is a cooking method in Chaoshan cuisine where white sugar is melted into syrup, and then deep-fried ingredients are added to the syrup. Once cooled and solidified, the outer layer of the ingredient forms a white crystallized coating. Because the people of Chaoshan refer to white sugar as "sha sugar" (literally "sand sugar"), the process of melting the sha sugar into syrup and then letting it cool back into a solid, powdery form gives rise to the name “fansha.”

　　Candied taro is one of the most famous Chaoshan snacks, often served as a side dish during Chaoshan banquets. Made from starchy taro and white sugar using the fansha technique, it has a uniquely soft, smooth texture and sweet taste. In addition to taro, sweet potatoes can also be used to make fansha dishes. It is common in Chaoshan to serve candied taro and candied sweet potato together on a plate. The white taro and golden sweet potato resemble “golden and silver pillars,” hence earning the poetic name “Golden and Silver Pillars,” or alternatively, “A House Full of Gold and Jade.”