Shanzhagao Explained

Shanzhagao (Chinese: 山楂糕, Pinyin: shānzhāgāo) or hawthorn cake is a Chinese snack food made from the Chinese hawthorn, Crataegus pinnatifida. Shanzhagao is red in color and has a gummy texture. It is typically cut into cubes.

Process

The red dessert is usually made by cooking hawthorn berries and blending or pounding them into a paste. The paste is then cooked again and placed in a dish to set into a gelatin-like state.^{[1] [2]} Sugar is also typically added during the paste stage.^{[3] [4]}

Traditional medicine

Chinese hawthorn berries have been believed to benefit health in Chinese traditional medicine since the Tang dynasty.^[5] It is particularly believed to benefit the heart and digestive system.^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Haw flakes
• Pear-syrup candy
• Tanghulu

Notes and References

1. Web site: 山楂糕的做法_菜谱_香哈网 . 2024-03-25 . www.xiangha.com.
2. Web site: 苹果山楂糕~甜软可口 . 2024-03-25 . www.xiachufang.com.
3. Web site: 山楂糕 . 2024-03-25 . www.xiachufang.com.
4. Web site: 山楂糕的做法_菜谱_香哈网 . 2024-03-25 . www.xiangha.com.
5. Cheng . Ming-En . Peng . Hua-Sheng . November 2011 . Development of the origin and application of shanza in ancient and modern . Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi (Beijing, China: 1980) . 41 . 6 . 336–338 . 0255-7053 . 22335842.
6. Zhang . Juan . Chai . Xiaoyun . Zhao . Fenglan . Hou . Guige . Meng . Qingguo . 2022-09-15 . Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Hawthorn . Foods . en . 11 . 18 . 2861 . 10.3390/foods11182861 . free . 2304-8158 . 9498108 . 36140986.
7. Web site: Hawthorn (Crataegus): Food and Medicine In China . 2024-04-11 . www.itmonline.org.