Why is rock sugar used in Chinese cooking?
Why do some Chinese dishes, namely braises and soups often call for rock sugar instead of regular sugar. Does rock sugar have any properties that would make it behave differently than regular granulated sugar?
Best Answer
while all of the above answers are correct, I want to provide a perspective as a native Chinese. Rock sugar is better used (than granulated sugar) when you try to make dishes involving coloring the ingredient (by caramelization, dishes like braised pork belly (Hong Shao Rou need this step) mostly because of the shape difference. Rock sugar has less surface area touching the oil while granulated sugar immerses itself in, which makes it react faster, and more likely to get burnt.
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Quick Answer about "Why is rock sugar used in Chinese cooking?"
Rock sugar is refined, crystalized sugar used in Chinese kitchen to add shine to braised dishes or to sweeten desserts. Rock sugar (or rock candy) is refined, crystalized sugar in small cubes or in irregular lumps. Lightly transparent, its colour can be white or light yellow.What does rock sugar do?
Rock sugar is especially common in Asian cuisines and is used to sweeten teas, desserts, and even savory dishes. It is less sweet than a comparable volume of granulated, white table sugar, making it an ideal, mild sweetener for many drinks and dishes.What can I substitute rock sugar with?
Substitutions. If you don't have this ingredient on hand or can't find it, granulated white or brown sugar will work just fine as a substitute.Does rock sugar taste different?
Chinese rock sugar is less sweet than white granulated sugar. Because it's less sweet, it doesn't overpower the flavor of hot drink as much as white granulated sugar does. Its neutral taste enhances the natural sweetness of drink without altering the taste.What do Chinese people use for sugar?
While sugar is the major sweetener used in China, saccharin also plays an important role. China's sugar consumption is normally about 7.0 million tonnes, and over the last decade has grown at average annual rates close to 2.0 percent. HFCS and glucose are also produced in China, but do not play a major role.How to make rock sugar - How to Cook Sugar - Sugar cooking techniques
More answers regarding why is rock sugar used in Chinese cooking?
Answer 2
No, it doesn't, really. Once it is dissolved, it behaves exactly the same. Eaters won't know the difference when eating the finished product. So, tastewise, there is no special reason to use rock sugar.
This answer assumes that you are adding sugar to a polar solvent (water, broth, alcohol...). It doesn't cover techniques of adding the sugar to oil or other occasions where it is not dissolved.
Answer 3
In China, highly refined granulated sugar like we find in US is somehow uncommon. The most common form of sugar is soft white sugar that is less pure and contains a few percent of syrup and other sugar family substance. These imperfections sometimes affect cooking.
Rock sugar has a relatively larger market in China than the rest of the world for precisely this reason: over there it's the most common highly purified and refined form of sugar, because if it's not pure, it won't crystalize so large. Crystalization is the further refinement process.
As a result, if a Chinese chef feel the need for highly purified sugar, he/she calls for rock sugar. This logic is sometimes carried on by chefs that works with granulated sugar regularly that is truly indistinguishable form crushed rock sugar.
So, if your regular sugar is already crystalized high purity granulated sugar, then no need for rock sugar.
Answer 4
According to this, it is less sweet than regular white sugar which can be used if rock sugar is not available.
Even if it can/ has a brown/golden-ish color, it is not brown sugar which has a more distinct flavor.
Answer 5
My answer is based on experience;I’m not sure of the underlying science. Rock sugar is not as sweet as granulated sugar. It has a broader, less intense sweetness which works well in savory dishes. It lacks a sweet “punch” which is more suited to desserts. I use the white kind, though I’m sure the yellow/brown sort has some additional flavor.
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