Tuesday, July 1, 2025
28.3 C
Haikou

How to Dodge the Worst of May Holiday Traffic...

Plan your May Day trip smartly! Avoid traffic jams on Hainan highways with peak travel tips, scenic detours, and travel advice for a smooth holiday ...

Explore Hainan on a Budget: Special May Day Sightseeing...

Celebrate May Day holiday with unforgettable budget sightseeing bus tours across Hainan! Take advantage of limited-time special offers on five exclusive routes, plus extra discounts on popular island and rainforest tours …

Starting March 20, All New Energy Vehicles Entering Hainan...

Starting March 20, Xuwen Port will no longer handle ferry services for new energy vehicles. Instead, all such services will be managed exclusively by Hai’an New Port ...

Sanya Implements New Hotel Cancellation Rules to Improve Tourist...

Sanya has introduced new hotel cancellation guidelines, allowing full refunds for early cancellations and prioritizing consumer rights through the "Sanya Worry-Free Travel" platform ...
spot_img
HomeArts and cultureMaking traditional brown...

Making traditional brown sugar in Zun Tan Town, Haikou

One of the things I love about Hainan is that even after living here for almost eight years I can still jump in the car, drive out of Haikou for an hour or so and discover something I have never seen before.

Both Jake Canning heard of a traditional Hainanese sugar making factory, (one of only two left in Hainan), that still made brown sugar using traditional techniques that date back 600 years to the Tang Dynasty.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(6)

We drove to Zun Tan town where we met with Mr Huang who has run the factory for the past 30 years, (ever since his graduation from high school) and is the fourth generation of his family to continue on the sugar making process.

Known in Hainan as “Oriental chocolate” the brown sugar is made from local sugarcane (which is rich in selenium), blended with three year old dried ginger powder to give it a very local and distinct flavour and contains no artificial ingredients.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(7)

There are four stages to the process, juice extraction, filtration, boiling & reducing and crystallisation. Out of these the most important step in determining the quality of the final product is the boiling & reducing.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(1)

The crushed sugarcane stalks are fed into an underground furnace which must be maintained at a precise and steady temperature. Traditional pots sit above the furnace from large to small where the sugarcane extract is boiled and reduced in stages and must be stirred continuously.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(3)

The optimum moment for crystallisation is determined by taste. With a good batch, the surface of the sugar will have a characteristic snowflake pattern. When the extract is considered ready it is poured onto a drying table where it crystallises rapidly and is pounded and worked into a loose powder, it is also poured into molds and sold as cubes or bars.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(2)

The factory which employs 25 staff, begins operation in either December or January each year, runs for about three months and produces anywhere from 30 to 60 tonnes of sugar which is sold mainly to Haikou and surrounding townships.

Making-traditional-brown-ginger-sugar-in-zun-Tan-village-Hainan-Island-China-(5)

Nowadays the factory is adapting to more modern local tastes and their products include sugar infused with rosebud petals which is proving to be popular.

In ancient Chinese culture, long before the advent of western medicine, everything was examined and studied for its medicinal value, including food. Local Hainanese would cook noodles with the sugar for its health benefits and make “nian gao” 年糕 a sticky rice pudding and popular local dessert. During the yue zi, a set of diet and lifestyle restrictions traditionally practiced in China in the month after birth to restore a woman’s health it is boiled and drank as sugar water.

Whether for health benefits or you’re out to explore some truly ancient Hainan tastes it doesn’t come more authentic than this.

Leave a Comment:

Make-a-comment-or-complaint
Comment

- Advertisement -

spot_img

Related articles:

The “Art of Sand & Fire”, Hainan Museum Silk Road, Ancient Glass Exhibition

Glass making, the “Art of Sand and Fire”, is thought to have first originated in Mesopotamia, which roughly corresponds to modern-day Iraq. The ancient Silk Road played an important role in the spread of the skills and techniques of glass making along with glass artifacts, as it was a major trade route that connected the East and West for centuries.

Discover Hainan Opera

Hainan opera is an integral part of Hainan culture. Its origins, when it began and how it developed however are a little unclear. What is known for sure is that it has been a part of Hainan Island culture going back for at least three hundred years.

The Life and Legacy of Su Dongpo, Poet, Politician and Exile

Su Dongpo, also known as Su Shi (1037-1101), was a renowned scholar, poet, and government official from the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) in China. He lived during a time of political instability and cultural flourishing and is remembered for his wit, wisdom, and literary talent.

Hainan International Tourism and Food Expo to be held in Haikou early December

Hainan International Tourism and Food Expo will be held at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run from Dec 1st - 4th

Get weekly email updates for new articles published!

Haikou
overcast clouds
28.3 ° C
28.3 °
28.3 °
93 %
2.9kmh
100 %
Tue
31 °
Wed
30 °
Thu
30 °
Fri
29 °
Sat
30 °

Cosy Stays Beyond the Ordinary

Relax, Unwind, and Explore Hainan's Hidden Gems

Puerto Libre Tapas: A Taste of Latin and Mediterranean Cuisine

Located in Xiuying District, Haikou, Puerto Libre Tapas brings together Latin and Mediterranean flavors in a relaxed and inviting setting. The warm decor blends Mediterranean charm with Latin energy, making it a great spot for a casual meal or special night out ...

The Paddy Shack: A Taste of Comfort in Chengmai

Tucked away in the quiet streets of Laocheng Town, Chengmai, just outside Haikou, The Paddy Shack is a welcoming spot for anyone craving hearty...

Batumi: A Taste of Georgia in Haikou

Haikou's dining scene just got a flavorful upgrade with Batumi Georgian Food and Wine. If you're looking to try something new, this is the...
spot_img

Bored? Need to get out more?

Latest News ...

Magnificent Yahu Rice Terraces or Tourism and Marketing Hype?

Rapid tourism development has transformed what was once a working agricultural landscape into a managed tourist attraction. It has generated significant marketing hyperbole heavily promoting the area far beyond what the actual experience delivers …

Haikou School Closure Status During Typhoon Wutip

Haikou's kindergartens are closed today (Friday, June 13, 2025) due to Typhoon Wutip's impact on Hainan Island. According to the latest Chinese-language sources, Haikou City, along with Ding'an and Tunchang counties, upgraded their typhoon warnings from blue to yellow on June 12th afternoon ...

How Strong Is Topical Storm Wutip? Projected Intensity and Classification

Typhoon Wutip is projected to reach wind speeds of 25 to 33 meters per second (m/s), which corresponds to Beaufort scale levels 10 to 12. This is not considered a "super typhoon" or one of the largest storms, but it is still a "big" storm by general standards …

Blue Typhoon Alert Issued for Sanya

A tropical depression is expected to affect Sanya over the next 24 hours. Winds in coastal and inland areas will intensify, with sustained speeds reaching Level 6 and gusts up to Levels 7–8. The system will also bring heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. Residents and organizations are urged to take precautions ...
spot_img

Looking for an international pre-school in Haikou?

Flora's International Preschool has three preschools in the Haikou area. Our schools follow a European curriculum

Continue Reading ...

A Taste of Georgia in Haikou: Wine, Cuisine, and Culture Night at Batumi

On Friday, June 20th, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Batumi will bring a piece of Georgia to Haikou with an event that combines traditional Georgian cuisine, five varieties of Georgian wine, and live music …

“Our Expression” – Li Ethnic Plant Dye & Rattan Weaving Art Exhibition in Hainan

Explore "Our Expression," a showcase of Li ethnic plant dye and rattan weaving from Wuzhishan’s Maodao Township. Open until July 14, 2025, at the Hainan Provincial Cultural Center in Haikou. Includes workshops and activities on June 21–22 …

Hainan to Host 2025 UCI Granfondo World Series Qualifier

The UCI Granfondo World Series includes a new qualifying event in Hainan, in December 2025, offering amateur cyclists a chance to compete for a place at the 2026 World Championships in Japan …

Get weekly email updates for new articles published!

Never miss another important notice or event. Be informed of what you need to know, when you need to know it.