Beijing's ice sugar gourds are best enjoyed at these few places

The children are wrapped in thick cotton-padded coats, walking through the gray brick and tile alleys, holding a string of haws dipped in crystal-clear ice sugar. The bright red of the hawthorn shines through the ice sugar, giving the whole street a vibrant color. But that's not enough, they need a snowy day, covered in a white blanket, just to make the red fruits in the snowy ground look sweeter and more adorable.

Dongsi North Street and Helude

The candied haws at Dongsi North Street's Helude are managed solely by Master Wang. He specializes in three flavors: hawthorn, Chinese yam, and yam beans. There are no fancy variations, just quality that speaks for itself.

Niujie Halal Supermarket Ma Ji

Ma Ji uses small granulated rock sugar, and the resulting crystal yellow sugar coating wraps the hawthorn tightly. The seeds are all removed, the sugar coating is crisp, the red fruit is soft, and the sweet and sour flavors complement each other.

Dongsi North Street Convenience Car Shop

Also located on Dongsi North Street, there is a convenience car shop that offers a variety of candied hawthorns. The hawthorn with red bean paste is the best. The hawthorn has a slight sour taste, but the mildly sweet red bean paste balances the acidity, creating a subtly fragrant and rich texture.