Bing Tanghulu (冰糖葫芦) or Hawthorn Toffee Sticks were once part of the fabric of Beijing street life, when itinerant hawkers wandered the hutong lanes calling out with a distinctive cry. On a wooden pole the huge bouquet of red candied hawthorn sticks look resplendent, and while the street hawkers are long gone, Hawthorn Toffee Sticks…
Jujube . 红枣 . Chinese Red Dates
Since arriving in Beijing, I’ve grown rather partial to fresh jujube – a tiny fruit in season in late summer. Dried red dates have been an essential part of my pantry for years. I often use them in Chinese soups and desserts, but I don’t think I ever knew what they looked like fresh. It’s a pleasure to…