Chinese Sugar
From Chinese Food Wiki
Introduction
Sugar is a basic seasoning in Chinese cooking, used not only for sweets but also to balance savory dishes (for example in red-braised meats and sweet-and-sour sauces). Two everyday forms are rock sugar and red (brown) sugar.
Types
- Rock candy / rock sugar 冰糖 (bīngtáng) — large clear or amber crystals; preferred for braising, desserts, and herbal tonics because it dissolves cleanly and tastes milder than granulated white sugar.
- Red sugar 红糖 (hóngtáng) — unrefined brown sugar with a molasses-like flavor; common in northern sweets, ginger drinks, and postpartum diets in traditional practice.
- White granulated sugar 白糖 is also widely used in home and restaurant kitchens.