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 Daily Tidbit: Making Sugar Figures

Making sugar figures 吹糖人(chuī táng rén) is an old profession in Beijing. In the past, whenever sugar figure 糖人(táng rén) makers arrived at a hutong with their shoulder poles, the local children couldn’t help but watch. First, the maker takes a little maltose with a small spoon and then nips it with their hands; then they place it onto a wheat straw and, while blowing gently, the maker would use his hands to form a figure. Soon, the soft maltose turns into a striking creature. Kids are more excited to see these sugar figures than to eat them. In olden times, kids rarely had pocket money and if one of them bought a sugar figure, all the other children would crowd around and admire it. For kids, sugar figures make attractive toys but for adults they are pieces of edible artwork that carry memories of childhood. Are you interest in making sugar figures? How about coming to Beijing and giving it a try?