Haw flakes ( or ) are Chinese sweets made from the fruit of the Chinese hawthorn. They are a light or dark pink candy, usually formed into discs two millimeters thick. They are dry and sometimes crumbly in texture. They are most commonly packaged in cylindrical stacks with label art resembling Chinese fireworks. The sweet and tangy snack is usually served to guests along with tea or as a treat for children. They are sometimes eaten alongside bitter Chinese herbal medicine to aid digestion. Ponceau 4R is used in Europe, Asia and Australia but is not approved by the US FDA.

Currently, certain brands of haw flakes contain Allura Red AC (FD& C #40) as the red coloring. In Europe, Allura Red AC is not recommended for consumption by children. The food coloring was previously banned in Denmark, Belgium, France and Switzerland, but is now approved in the whole EU as food additive E 129.

See also

  • List of Chinese desserts
  • Tanghulu Traditional Chinese snack consisting of skewers of glazed fruit
  • White Rabbit (candy) Popular Chinese brand of milk candy
  • Sugar painting Chinese snack where sugar is drizzled into edible shapes

References

  • Cardhouse.com - Package Design 19 (Haw Flakes)
  • Description of Haw Flakes