For those looking for a sweet treat in a fall fair environment full of fried foods heavy on the stomach, one dessert option found in The Big E’s Young Building offers a refreshing and light alternative.
Called “tanghulu,” this skewer of fruit — in this case, strawberries — is coated in a glossy melted sugar which glistens in the sun.
The centuries-old treat is originally from China and grew in popularity online earlier this year, even going viral on TikTok, according to Food Network.
Fairgoers can find tanghulu at Cha Feo, the fair’s only bubble tea vendor, which is otherwise located at 248 Newbury St. in Boston.
The strawberry skewer is available to order from digital touchscreens at Cha Feo’s stand and costs less than $10 per skewer, without tax included.
Customers can input their phone number at the kiosk to receive a text message to know when their tanghulu will be ready.
Workers begin the process of melting the granulated sugar into a syrup and coating the strawberries.
The skewers and syrup are left to air dry and harden, before being handed to the customer with a small paper basket to catch any remaining runoff.
Reminiscent of small red hearts, the wooden skewer containing five berries tastes very much as one would expect — like strawberries.
However, the addition of the melted sugar not only makes the tanghulu more visually appealing, it also accentuates the sweetness of the fruit.
The result is a dessert perhaps more comparable to the airiness of a strawberry shortcake, just without the whipped cream and added carbs.
Watch out for sticky fingers and dripping residue from the sugar-soaked berries — so keeping the paper basket and napkins close as you eat it is recommended.
While at Cha Feo’s stand, you can also pick up a number of boba, milk and ice teas in flavors such as brown sugar, taro and passionfruit as well as matcha lattes.
