Sugar Blowing – An age-long craft in Beijing

9
May 2006

When you steps onto the ancient street of Wangfujing in Beijing, you will notice a sugar blower went from street to street with his shoulder poles, carrying stools and cupboards on each side. The cupboard held charcoal, charcoal stove with a cuprum spoon full of maltose in the center. On top of it were models of different kinds of sugar figures on straws. These have attracted lots of kids and tourists.

First, the maker prepares his basic recipe and makes the hard candy or maltose by heating it until it becomes soft. He then picks up a lump of the maltose and nip the soft maltose by hands, makes a small hollow to plugs it into a wheat straw pole and blow gently, using his hand to form a figure… He slowly blows through the pipe and enlarges the air pocket inside the sugar ball. Soon, the soft maltose turns into a striking creature. This sugar figures would sell for 30 yuan.

This traditional parts of the Chinese culture still enjoys a strong vitality and social influence in Beijing.

Sugar Blower Beijing
The sugar blower has made a variety of sugar figures that he displays on his stand.

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Bibi Liew
2:55 pm

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Behind The Scene

My name is Bibi Liew and I'm a third-generation oversea Chinese. I'm born on the 3rd of November and that makes me a typical Scorpio. I stayed in several countries and ended up in Shanghai for reasons that are still not entirely clear to myself... I came to China and work as an Expatriate in 2004. I am an Interior Architect and design Hotels and Club Houses in many Cities in China. Ron and I will relocate to Nanchang in March 2010 and I'll be a WAHM!

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