From Imperial Palace Delicacy to Popular Snacks: The Cultural and Market Evolution of Hawthorn Products

A ripe hawthorn berry, when bitten into, reveals flesh that is both sour and sweet - a taste that has journeyed from the imperial kitchens of the Qing Dynasty to today's popular livestream shopping lists. The century-long evolution of hawthorn products not only represents the inheritance and innovation of flavour but also bears witness to changing consumer demands and industrial transformations across different eras, ultimately evolving from royal tribute to a widely beloved snack.

The "noble origin" of hawthorn products began with the culinary wisdom of the Qing Dynasty court. According to the "Rehe Chronicles," when Emperor Kangxi was hunting in Xinglong County, he lost his appetite due to travel fatigue. Local hunters offered him freshly picked hawthorn berries, and their sweet-sour taste instantly stimulated his appetite. Subsequently, hawthorn was incorporated into imperial cuisine, with royal chefs combining it with rock sugar and honey to create hawthorn paste and preserves, maintaining nutrition while balancing the tartness. During Emperor Qianlong's reign, the tradition of "autumn hawthorn consumption" emerged in the palace, with the imperial kitchen creating "Three Immortals Cake" by combining hawthorn with malt and fermented grain, exclusively for royal consumption. This royal favour elevated hawthorn beyond its wild fruit status, establishing its cultural foundation as both food and medicine.

In the late Qing and early Republican period, hawthorn products transitioned from the imperial court to the common people, becoming part of everyday culinary memories. As trade increased, farmers in major hawthorn-producing regions like Hebei's Xinglong and Shandong's Qingzhou began processing fresh fruit into easily stored hawthorn leather and hawthorn balls. During times of scarcity, these malt sugar-cooked hawthorn products were precious treats for children - a rolled piece of hawthorn leather could release abundant sweet and sour flavours, while round hawthorn balls, coated in crystalline sugar frost, offered a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. During this period, hawthorn products were primarily handmade, with simple flavours and packaging, but their affordable prices and unique taste made them iconic snacks in Northern regions, completing their transformation from "imperial delicacy" to "people's favourite."

After China's Reform and Opening-up, hawthorn products underwent industrial transformation, gradually developing into a scaled industry. In the 1980s, hawthorn processing factories were established nationwide, replacing traditional handcrafting with standardised production lines. Processes like washing, pitting, pulping, and cooking became mechanised, improving both output and food safety. During this phase, hawthorn products began emphasising packaging design, with regional brands like "Beijing Hawthorn Leather" and "Shandong Hawthorn Slices" emerging and being distributed nationwide. Companies also began experimenting with flavour innovations, incorporating ingredients like apple and mulberry into traditional recipes to develop composite-flavour hawthorn burgers, meeting diverse consumer demands.

In the internet era, hawthorn products have successfully joined the ranks of "viral snacks" thanks to their health benefits and nostalgic appeal. As modern consumers' food demands shift from "satisfying hunger" to "health and nutrition," hawthorn's digestive benefits perfectly align with this trend. Companies have responded by launching pure products without artificial flavourings or sweeteners, creating "low-sugar hawthorn treats" using erythritol instead of sucrose, generating social media buzz about their "clean ingredient lists." E-commerce livestreaming has given new vitality to hawthorn products, with hosts showcasing crystalline hawthorn flesh and refreshing hawthorn drinks, selling tens of thousands of units in a single session, helping these traditional snacks transcend regional boundaries to become nationwide favourites.
From imperial cuisine to viral snacks, hawthorn products have consistently evolved with the times, maintaining their cultural essence as both food and medicine while adapting to new consumer demands. This balance of tradition and innovation is the core of traditional food's vitality.

Chengde Ruitai Food Co., Ltd. exemplifies this innovative development in hawthorn products. As a leading enterprise rooted in "China's Hawthorn Capital," they leverage Xinglong's premium hawthorn resources, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to develop popular products like hawthorn treats and additive-free preserved fruits. The company, centered around the "Delingguo" brand, expands its market through e-commerce platforms and livestreaming channels, bringing palace-inspired hawthorn flavours to more modern households.

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