Peen tong facts for kids
Peen tong (pronounced "peen tong") and wong tong (pronounced "wong tong") are special kinds of brown sugar from China. They are like a sweet candy or a block of sugar that people use in many yummy Chinese desserts. Sometimes, people even eat a small piece of it just as a snack! You can often find peen tong sold in solid blocks or bricks, usually in one-pound packages.
What is Peen Tong?
Peen tong (Chinese: 片糖; pinyin: piàntáng) and wong tong (Chinese: 黃糖; pinyin: huángtáng) are both types of brown sugar. They are different from the white sugar you might use every day because they have a richer, deeper flavor, almost like caramel. This special sugar comes in solid pieces, which makes it easy to store and use. It's a very important ingredient in many traditional Chinese recipes.
Sweet Uses in Chinese Dishes
Peen tong is a super versatile ingredient! It's used to make desserts, sweet sauces, and even warm, comforting soups. Here are a few ways this unique sugar is used:
- Nian Gao: This is a sticky, chewy rice cake often eaten during Chinese New Year. To add sweetness, people might scrape off tiny pieces of peen tong from a block. Another easier way is to dissolve the peen tong in hot water, making a sweet syrup to mix into the nian gao.
- Jiandui: These are delicious, crispy sesame balls made from glutinous rice flour. Peen tong is often used to sweeten the dough or the filling inside these popular treats.
- Haptou Wu: This is a sweet Chinese walnut soup. Peen tong helps give this creamy, nutty soup its perfect sweetness and a lovely golden color. It makes the soup a comforting and tasty dessert.
