​Guilin Songhua Sugar (Pine Blossom Sugar)

Guilin Songhua Sugar (Pine Blossom Sugar) is a century-old traditional pastry from the Qing Dynasty, named for its shape resembling blooming pine blossoms, and also known as the "Oriental popcorn candy" for its crispy and sweet taste. The craftsmanship emphasizes "three boils and three stir-fries": maltose and sucrose are first boiled into a syrup in proportion, then mixed with fried white sesame seeds and crushed peanuts, quickly stir-fried, and poured into wooden molds to set before being cut into small pieces when cooled. The finished candy is coated with fine sesame seeds. With a bite, the crispy sugar shatters in the mouth, releasing the sweet aroma of malt, the roasted fragrance of sesame, and the nutty flavor of peanuts—sweet but not cloying, with a more intense aroma as you chew. In the past, Songhua Sugar was a must-have New Year's snack in Guilin, symbolizing "blossoming wealth and honor," and children often hid under the eaves to sneak a few pieces. Today, this ancient dessert still retains the warmth of handcrafting. In Guilin's old-fashioned pastry shops, master chefs still boil the sugar in small charcoal pots, the wooden spatula making a "rustling" sound as it stirs. Foreign visitors are often drawn to this ritualistic scene, buying a bag to eat on the go and savoring the century-old taste memories.