Xianyang Amber Sugar

Xianyang Amber Sugar

　　Xianyang Amber Sugar is one of the Four Famous Sugars of Guanzhong (Xianyang Amber Sugar, Sanyuan Liuhua Sugar, Yao County Snowflake Sugar, Fuping Qiongguo Sugar). Its origins can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty, and it has been passed down and developed for over two thousand years. It is a unique, premium local delicacy exclusive to the Xianyang region. Due to historical reasons, it disappeared from the market for nearly 40 years.

　　The production technique of Xianyang Amber Sugar boasts a long history, profound cultural significance, and distinctive features. In June 2009, Xianyang Amber Sugar was designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Project of Shaanxi Province by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture.

　　Amber Sugar, originally named Tiger Skin Sugar due to its similarity in color to tiger fur, is also called Seasoned Caramel Candy because it contains traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients.

　　Legend has it that during the Qin Dynasty, the mother of Emperor Qin Shi Huang suffered from chronic bronchitis and persistent coughing. The imperial physicians prepared herbal medicine, but its bitter taste made it difficult to swallow, and the Empress Dowager’s condition did not improve. Lü Buwei then instructed the physicians to grind the herbs into powder and deliver it to the sugar workshops to be mixed into maltose candy. Since both the herbs and the grain-based maltose shared warming properties, they enhanced each other’s therapeutic effects. Moreover, the resulting candy tasted good and was easy to swallow. After consuming it, the Empress Dowager recovered quickly. The recipe was later passed on to the public. For thousands of years, during times when medicine was scarce, Tiger Skin Sugar served as a functional food that benefited the people widely. Almost every household would stock up before winter to safeguard against health risks for the elderly and children. Thus, Tiger Skin Sugar became a uniquely medicinal food in the Xianyang region.

　　During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Tiger Skin Sugar was prized as a health-preserving gift and a luxury item for entertaining guests and relatives. It played a significant role in the trade and exchanges between Xianyang, Chang’an, and other regions. At that time, Tiger Skin Sugar was a vital commodity transported via camel caravans at the Northern Pass Camel Market in Xianyang, and it was sold along the Silk Road to northern provinces, Russia, the Middle East, and Europe.

　　In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiger Skin Sugar had become a tribute to the imperial court and reached the peak of its development. Folk artisans continuously refined the production techniques and added ingredients like walnuts to the candy. The resulting product had a sweet, refreshing taste, was rich and crispy, slightly bitter yet fragrant. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the night snacks laid out on his desk while he reviewed memorials often included Tiger Skin Sugar. The emperor frequently gifted the candy to palace maidens, concubines, and ministers.

　　According to the Xianyang County Annals, in the 26th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1900 AD), when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi fled to Xi’an with Emperor Guangxu. One day, after praying for blessings at Famen Temple, she passed through Xianyang and caught a cold, suffering from a persistent cough. The magistrate of Xianyang presented her with Tiger Skin Sugar. After eating it, the Empress Dowager felt her symptoms improve significantly. Observing the candy’s golden color and the white walnut kernels inside, which resembled jade and looked like amber, she remarked, “This candy should be called Amber Sugar.” Cixi’s naming brought great fame to this distinctive Xianyang food, making Amber Sugar the most representative specialty of Xianyang and even Shaanxi.

　　Before the liberation, there were over 20 workshops producing Amber Sugar in Panjia Lane (now Xianyang Court Street) on Beiping Street in Xianyang city, and more than 40 workshops of varying sizes outside the city. Among them, the “Hexingquan” brand was particularly famous for its exquisite craftsmanship and authentic flavor, earning widespread acclaim across Shaanxi.

　　Hexingquan • Eight Advantages of Xianyang Amber Sugar

　　1. A Local Specialty of Xianyang: Invented by the people of Xianyang and unique to the region.

　　2. Long History: Passed down and developed for over two thousand years, with distinctive features and profound cultural roots.

　　3. Key Commodity on the Ancient Silk Road: Embodies the ancient spirit of Xianyang people in foreign trade and exchange.

　　4. Historic Brand: The “Hexingquan” brand, inherited from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, is a representative brand of “Xianyang Amber Sugar.”

　　5. Health-Preserving Function: Offers dietary therapy benefits such as strengthening the spleen and appetite, replenishing qi and blood, moistening the lungs and relieving coughs, nourishing the brain and kidneys, warming the middle and dispersing cold, and prolonging life—especially effective for chronic bronchitis sufferers.

　　6. Royal Elegance: From the Ming and Qing Dynasties onward, it has been a tribute to the royal family. Empress Dowager Cixi named it “Amber Sugar.”

　　7. Eco-Friendly: Made primarily from millet maltose and walnuts, with side ingredients derived from a thousand-year-old traditional herbal formula—no additives. Handmade and roasted, it produces no wastewater or waste gas, making it naturally environmentally friendly.

　　8. Designated by the Shaanxi Provincial Government as part of the “Second Batch of Shaanxi Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Projects.”