Hezhou tanggua — a traditional winter candy from Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province. [Photo/Gansu Daily]

In the winter memories of Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province, Hezhou tanggua (a kind of candy made of maltose; literally "sugar melon") holds a special place as a beloved seasonal treat.  

When the cold wind blows, street stalls selling tanggua are often surrounded by eager customers in Linxia. These crisp, fragrant sweets — filled with tiny air bubbles — offer a unique texture and flavor that is hard to replicate. Today, the craft of making Hezhou tanggua is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage item of Linxia.  

Freshly made malt sugar takes on a deep reddish-brown hue. To transform it, the sugar must be swiftly pulled and stretched in the cold air until it turns pale gray, then shaped into either flat slab candy or rounded "white lumps". This process is like a dance between ice and fire — yet in the hands of a skilled artisan, it flows as gracefully as pulling noodles.  

While traditional forms like slab candy and white lumps remain popular, tanggua have also evolved. New varieties infused with red dates, sesame, peanuts, and other ingredients now cater to modern tastes, balancing tradition with innovation.  

More than just a winter snack, Hezhou tanggua carry the wisdom and warmth of generations. Between their crisp sweetness lies not only a craft passed down through time but also the hopes and flavors of a land and its people.