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Dragon's Beard Candy

Crafted locally in Edmonton, Alberta

What is Dragon's Beard Candy?

Dragon’s Beard Candy is a traditional Chinese confection made of thousands of delicate sugar strands that are gently wrapped around a filling. The classic filling is crunchy roasted peanuts. It is a popular handmade candy that has existed for thousands of years typically available during celebrations such as Chinese New Year.

Tiffany Leigh (a Toronto-based journalist) best describes it as a candy with “strands [that] dissolve into a soft mass while others shatter into [thin] flakes, before the whole thing morphs into a chewy, crunchy, jumble of nougat” [1].

The name of the candy comes from the thin white strands that resemble the whiskers of the mythical Dragon in Chinese legend.

[1] Source: https://www.eater.com/24054505/dragons-beard-candy-chinese-lunar-new-year-tradition

Close-up of white Dragon's Beard candy stacked on a wooden surface

Dragon's Beard Candy Ingredients

What is it made of?

Fine Granulated Sugar
Corn Syrup
Cornstarch (for dusting)
Roasted Peanuts (traditional filling)

How is it made?

The process begins by boiling a mixture of water, sugar and corn syrup to a precise temperature.

Once cooled into a solid but pliable ring, the confectioner repeatedly pulls and folds the sugar through cornstarch. With each fold, the number of strands double—from 2 to 4, to 8, and eventually to over 32,000 fine, silk-like threads.

The delicate strands are then hand-wrapped around a filling such as roasted peanuts.

Watch the video to see how we make it! We plan to do live demonstrations and provide free samples at local festivals/markets where permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does this candy keep for?
Unopened, it keeps fresh (from the date it was made) for at least:

Does refrigeration change the candy?

Yes - if you prefer the candy to dissolve quickly and not be chewy, we recommend you eat it after it's been chilled in the refrigerator.
If you prefer the candy to have a soft chew, let it come to room temperature before eating.

Is this allergy friendly?
The traditional filling is peanuts. If you have a peanut allergy we unfortunately do not recommend purchasing the candy.

In the future, we plan to release alternative flavors that won't contain peanuts. However, there is still a risk that the other flavors may have trace amounts of peanuts since they're prepared in a home kitchen.

Is this vegan, vegetarian and/or gluten-free?
Different flavours may contain animal products or ingredients that contain gluten. However, the original flavour does not contain any animal products or gluten.

Disclaimer: Although the original flavour is made with no gluten ingredients, it is prepared in a home kitchen that does have gluten containing foods. Thus, there may be trace amounts of gluten in the candy since it is not manufactured in a strictly controlled commercial environment.

When is the best time to eat this candy?
We recommend eating this candy immediately after opening for the typical soft chew texture. If you prefer it to completely dissolve, refrigerate it first.

If left exposed to the air, the delicate sugar threads absorb ambient moisture over time and can become tough and chewy.

What is the powder that covers the candy?
It is cornstarch. Cornstarch keeps each sugar strand from sticking to one another. It is what makes it possible to create thousands of sugar threads.

How is this different from cotton candy?
Cotton candy is made via a machine that shoots hot, liquefied sugar through tiny holes. The sugar cools rapidly into threads as it travels through the air.

Dragon’s Beard Candy is created all by hand. The confectioner pulls warm, pliable sugar many times until the desired thinness is achieved.

Do you offer shipping or delivery?
No - we currently do not offer shipping or delivery. Orders must be picked up locally in the northern Lake District area of Edmonton. Otherwise, check our Events page for upcoming markets you can find us at.

How soon can I pickup my order(s)?
Due to popular demand and to ensure we can continue to provide the highest quality candy, we have switched to a stock system & you can only order when there is stock available. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to know whenever we restock!

You can pick up your order when it is ready during the pick up hours listed at the bottom of this page.

Pick up Hours

Mondays

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Tuesdays

4:00pm - 5:00pm

Wednesdays

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Thursdays

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Fridays

Closed

Saturdays

Closed

Sundays

10:00am - 12:00pm

Contact Us – Edmonton's Dragon’s Beard Candy Shop

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