What Is Chinese Shrimp Crisp Candy?

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What is shrimp candy?

Shrimp Crisp Candy (Beijing Crisp Candy) is one of the three famous candies in China. The main ingredients are white sugar and glucose syrup, and the nutritional components include sugar, protein, trace elements, etc. This type of candy has a thin and crispy sugar skin, a clear layer of filling, and is sweet and delicious to eat. It does not stick to the teeth or taste greasy, and leaves no residue after eating. It is suitable for all ages.

Although it is called "Daxia Su" (literally "Big Shrimp Crisp"), it does not contain shrimp, nor does it taste like shrimp. The reason why it is called "Daxia Su" is because it has a bright surface, is full in shape, and is inlaid with alternating white and brown stripes, looking like the middle section of a shrimp.

History

Prawn Crisp Candy evolved from the traditional Peanut Candy, which is believed to have first appeared during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). In those turbulent times, as warfare was rampant and safety a luxury, wealthier families sought to escape the chaos, taking with them easy-to-carry provisions. Combining syrup and peanuts into a cookable mixture, they created what could be considered the ancestor of Peanut Candy, cutting it into irregular pieces after cooking. This innovation is recognized as the world's first peanut candy. By the 12th and 13th centuries, peanut candy had made its way to Arab countries, then to Greece and Europe, and eventually spread worldwide.

Over countless generations, up until the early last century, peanut candy remained a singular product with a uniform production method. It wasn't until the establishment of the Li Ji Bakery that crisp candy began to diversify and develop further. After nearly a century of refinement, Li Ji Bakery transformed from a small shop into a renowned brand both domestically and internationally, expanding its crisp candy line to twenty different products.

With a variety of types, hundreds of production methods, and countless flavors, the low-sugar crisp candy stands out as the most representative, alleviating concerns over sugar intake for beauty-conscious women and diabetics alike. The "Macao Special Crisp Candy" produced by Li Ji Bakery, leveraging traditional craftsmanship, secret ancient recipes, and advanced production techniques, has become a renowned specialty product in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Europe, and the Americas.

Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, some shops and workshops in Beijing used copper molds shaped like children to make crisp candy, hence it was commonly known as "Child Crisp" among Beijingers.

After the establishment of the new China, dozens of private workshops merged into the First Beijing Food Factory, making "Child Crisp" a signature product. In 1963, they successfully developed "Red Prawn Crisp Candy," which quickly became an export product and an international bestseller. Despite increasing production over the decades, demand has consistently outstripped supply. The Red Prawn Crisp Candy has been awarded a silver medal by the State Council. Foreign merchants have praised it, saying: "Red Prawn Crisp is incomparable, not just to America’s top choice—Jinsui Crisp, but also to any other country’s crisp candy." The hallmark of Red Prawn Crisp can be summarized by four characteristics: "crisp, crunchy, fragrant, sweet." It embodies the essence of traditional craftsmanship with meticulous ingredient selection, including high-quality durian sugar, concentrated glucose syrup, and "two-eight sesame paste," crafted through multiple stages of boiling, stretching, folding, and wrapping. This candy features a thin, crispy shell with clear layers of filling, offering a sweet, delicious taste that doesn’t stick to the teeth or cloy, leaving no residue after eating.

Legend

Even though the current shrimp crisp candy is a specialty of Beijing, historically, it has two origins, which are respectively from Wuhu City in Hubei Province and Xuzhou City in Jiangsu Province.

Legend One:

In the era of Emperor Wanli during the Ming Dynasty, there lived a devoted son in the town of Wuxue. His elderly mother fell ill, refusing food and water, and no remedy seemed to work. In desperation, the son crafted a concoction of sesame, cane sugar, osmanthus, and dried tangerine peel, grinding them into a fine powder to feed his mother. To his delight, she enjoyed it and began to recover swiftly. Her health improved day by day; her eyes sparkled with clarity, her spirit lifted, and she felt rejuvenated like a withered tree in spring. Overjoyed, the son mass-produced his creation, naming it "Crispy Sugar," and introduced it to the market for all to enjoy. This touching tale, along with the Crispy Sugar, became a cherished legend in Wuxue, passed down through generations. During the Lunar New Year, the people of Wuxue celebrate vibrantly. Instead of money, guests are given Crispy Sugar as the preferred gift; a symbol of goodwill and the finest present one can offer. Relatives and friends visit each other, beaming with joy, with Crispy Sugar in hand, pocket, or tucked at their waist, proud to bear such a treasured gift, believing it to be the best New Year's gesture.

Legend Two:

Legend has it that during the Northern Song Dynasty, when Su Dongpo was the governor of Xuzhou, the Yellow River flooded disastrously in the seventh and eighth lunar months. Su Dongpo led the defense efforts against the flood, tirelessly working day and night, choosing to stay at the city walls over his own home. As the waters threatened to overtake the city, rumors spread that only the sacrifice of a young, beautiful woman could appease the river. Su Dongpo's thirteen-year-old daughter, upon hearing this, prayed and offered herself to save the people of Xuzhou, leaping into the river from the city walls. Her red shoes were later found downstream, her sacrifice deeply moving the people of Xuzhou, who rallied to fortify the city, ultimately preserving it.

In memory of Su Dongpo's daughter, the people of Xuzhou erected Huanglou Temple and crafted a statue in her honor. The temple fair, held annually on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, predominantly attracts women, leading to the saying, "Huanglou's fair is aglow with Su Girl's spirit, drawing crowds like clouds." People flock to buy "White Sesame Osmanthus Crispy Sugar" from the century-old Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store to pay tribute to her. The shape of each piece of Crispy Sugar, remarkably similar to ancient city wall bricks, sparks curiosity: could this resemblance be mere coincidence? Open a pack of Crispy Sugar, and you'll see the uncanny similarity for yourself.