Dragon's Beard Candy
Dragon's Beard Candy is a traditional Chinese confection made by repeatedly stretching and folding a sugar syrup mixture with cornstarch until it forms thousands of hair-thin strands, which are then wrapped around a filling of crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, and sometimes coconut or dried fruit. It originated in China, with historical roots often traced back to the Han Dynasty, and is a popular street food and festival treat in many East Asian countries.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This candy is very high in carbohydrates from sugar and starch, with minimal protein or fat unless the filling includes nuts. A typical serving (about 2-3 pieces) contains roughly 150-200 calories, providing quick energy but few essential nutrients.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 120 kcal |
| Protein | 1.5 g |
| Carbs | 22 g |
| Fat | 3.5 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 15 mg |
| Iron | 1.2 mg |
| Calcium | 20 mg |
| Potassium | 45 mg |
| Magnesium | 8 mg |
| Phosphorus | 30 mg |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 0.03 mg |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 0.02 mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0.4 mg |
Per 1 piece (30 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The technique of pulling sugar into thousands of fine threads is a remarkable culinary art, requiring skill and timing, and it's similar to the process used for making 'pulled taffy' or 'silk thread' candies in other cultures. Nutritionally, it's a fascinating example of how a simple sugar base can be transformed into a complex, texturally unique treat through physical manipulation rather than added ingredients.
