What Is Haw Flakes? | Chinese Candy

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What are haw flakes?

Haw flakes, also known as hawthorn cakes, are a type of Chinese dessert made primarily from hawthorn. Hawthorn flakes are usually round and thin, brightly colored, crisp in texture, and uniform in thickness. In China, haw flakes are not only a popular snack, but also often used as an auxiliary in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance appetite and aid digestion.

Hawthorn itself is a fruit rich in nutritional value, containing a variety of vitamins, organic acids (such as citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, etc.), flavonoids, minerals (such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc.) and lipase. These ingredients make hawthorn have the effects of invigorating the spleen and appetizing, promoting digestion, and activating blood circulation. In particular, lipase can promote the digestion of fatty foods, so haw flakes can help digestion to a certain extent, especially have a certain alleviating effect on meat stagnation.

The production process of haw flakes includes several steps such as selection, cleaning, steaming, pulping, molding, drying, and packaging. First, clean the hawthorn and steam it into a paste, then add water to make a pulp, and use a fine mesh to remove impurities such as stems, skins, and cores. Then, mix the hawthorn paste with white sugar and food coloring, scrape it off after concentration, sprinkle a layer of white sugar when it is 70-80% dry, and finally continue to dry, slice and package. This series of processes causes the haw flakes to lose some nutritional components during the processing, especially some nutrients that are easily destroyed at high temperatures, such as vitamin C.

The haw flakes on the market often contain a high amount of sugar, making them a high-sugar preserved fruit. Excessive consumption of haw flakes can not only lead to malnutrition, dental caries and other problems, but also affect normal eating, especially harmful to children's health. Therefore, although haw flakes have certain health effects, consumers are advised to eat them in moderation and pay attention to their sugar content.

In addition to haw flakes as snacks, there is also a type of haw flakes that are sliced and dried for drinking. This type of haw flakes retains more of the original ingredients of hawthorn, can be used to assist in the treatment of indigestion, high blood lipids and other problems, and also has potential anti-aging and anti-cancer effects. Suitable populations include those with poor digestive function, those who need to reduce blood lipids, and those who need to improve immunity.

Main Ingredients and Manufacturing Process of Hawthorn Slices

Main Ingredients

The main ingredient of hawthorn slices is hawthorn. Hawthorn is a nutritious fruit that contains several vitamins, tartaric acid, citric acid, hawthorn acid, malic acid and other organic acids, as well as brass, lactones, sugars, proteins, fats, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. These ingredients make hawthorn not only promote digestion and spleen appetite, but also help lower blood lipids and blood pressure. In the process of making hawthorn slices, a certain amount of sugar is usually added to increase sweetness, but this also means that excessive consumption of hawthorn slices may affect the intake of other foods.

Manufacturing Method

The manufacturing process of hawthorn slices includes several key steps: selection, cleaning, steaming, pulping, forming, drying, and packaging[2]. The following is a more detailed manufacturing process:

Selection and Cleaning: First, select fresh and mature hawthorns, eliminate bad fruits, and then thoroughly clean them.

Steaming: Put the cleaned hawthorns into the steaming pot and steam until they are soft. This step helps make the hawthorns easier to pulp.

Pulping: Peel and seed the steamed hawthorns, and then use a food processor to turn them into hawthorn paste. This step is critical to the manufacture of hawthorn slices and determines the taste and color of the hawthorn slices[6].

Forming: Pour the hawthorn paste into the mold, press it flat and solid, and ensure uniform thickness.

Drying: Place the formed hawthorn slices in the oven and dry them at an appropriate temperature until the desired hardness and dryness.

Packaging: After drying, cool the hawthorn slices to room temperature, and then package them to keep their freshness and extend their shelf life.

It is worth noting that although the traditional manufacturing method of hawthorn slices is relatively simple, in modern production, other ingredients or seasonings may be added to satisfy different consumer tastes, such as flavored hawthorn slices, sandwiched hawthorn slices, etc. In addition, during the process of making homemade hawthorn slices, you can adjust the amount of sugar added according to personal taste to achieve the best balance of sour and sweet.

In short, hawthorn slices are not only a delicious snack, but the manufacturing process is also full of fun. By understanding the main ingredients and manufacturing methods of hawthorn slices, consumers can not only appreciate the unique charm of this traditional delicacy, but also try to make it themselves. While enjoying healthy and delicious food, they can also deeply experience the profoundness of Chinese food culture.

If you are looking for a recipe for Haw Flakes, I happen to have one here: How To Make Haw Flakes At Home?