From Imperial Court Delicacy to Viral Snack: The Cultural and Market Evolution of Hawthorn Products

A ripe hawthorn berry, when bitten into, reveals flesh that is both sour and sweet - a flavour that has journeyed from the imperial kitchens of the Qing Dynasty to today's trending lists in live-streaming rooms. 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 nationally beloved snack.

The "noble origins" of hawthorn products began with the culinary wisdom of the Qing Dynasty court. According to the "Rehe Records," when Emperor Kangxi was hunting in Xinglong County and felt fatigued with poor appetite, local hunters offered him freshly picked hawthorn berries, whose sweet and 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 preserved fruits, maintaining nutrition while balancing the tart flavour. During Emperor Qianlong's reign, the tradition of "autumn hawthorn consumption" emerged in the palace, where the imperial kitchen would combine hawthorn with malt and fermentation starter to create "Three Immortals Cake," a digestive aid exclusively for royal consumption. This royal patronage elevated hawthorn beyond its wild fruit status, establishing its cultural foundation as both food and medicine.

During the late Qing and early Republican period, hawthorn products transitioned from the imperial court to common households, 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 haw flakes and hawthorn balls. In times of material scarcity, these malt sugar-cooked hawthorn products became precious treats for children - a rolled piece of haw flake offered a burst of sweet and sour flavours, while round hawthorn balls, coated in crystalline sugar frost, provided a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. During this period, hawthorn products were primarily handmade, with simple flavours and modest packaging, yet their affordable prices and distinctive taste made them iconic snacks in Northern regions, completing their transformation from "royal delicacy" to "popular treat."

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 standardized production lines. Processes like washing, pitting, pulping, and cooking became mechanized, improving both output and food safety. During this phase, hawthorn products began emphasizing packaging design, with regional brands like "Beijing Haw Flakes" and "Shandong Hawthorn Slices" emerging and being distributed nationwide. Simultaneously, companies began experimenting with flavour innovations, incorporating ingredients like apple and mulberry into traditional recipes to develop compound-flavoured hawthorn snacks, meeting diverse consumer demands.

In the internet era, hawthorn products have successfully joined the ranks of "trending snacks" thanks to their health benefits and nostalgic appeal. As modern consumers' demands shifted from "filling and satisfying" to "healthy and nutritious," hawthorn's digestive and spleen-strengthening properties perfectly aligned with this trend. Companies responded by launching pure products without artificial flavourings or sweeteners, creating "low-sugar hawthorn treats" using erythritol instead of sucrose, gaining social media attention for their "clean ingredient lists." E-commerce livestreaming has given new vitality to hawthorn products, with hosts showcasing crystalline hawthorn fruit flesh and refreshing hawthorn drinks, selling tens of thousands of units in a single broadcast, helping these traditional snacks transcend regional limitations to become nationwide favourites.
From imperial cuisine to trending 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 foods' 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. With their core brand "Delingguo," they expand their market through e-commerce platforms and livestreaming channels, bringing palace-inspired hawthorn flavours into modern households.

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