Photo of Mao Bojiang (Left) and Dong Xiaowan (Right) [Photo/ntsfy.cn]

Mao Bijiang, one of the extraordinary Jiangnan talents, went to the Jiangnan Examination Hall of Nanjing for an exam in 1640 (the 13th year of the Chongzhen Period, Ming dynasty) where he met and fell in love with Dong Xiaowan, a Qinhuai woman honored as one of the Jinling Eight Beauties. When Mao returned to Rugao after the examination, Dong missed him so much that she sent her hand-made crunchy candy to Mao to declare her heart. Dong and her sworn sisters would hold an annual Food Basket Gathering to which each would take her hand-made food and vote for their favorites after tasting. Dong won the first prize that year for her homemade crunchy sugar. Mao was overwhelmed and wrote a letter naming the candy “Dong Candy”, a name which quickly spread. “Qinhuai Dong Candy” travelled far and wide through high streets and back lanes.

Once married to Mao in Rugao, Dong switched to local barley coke crumbs and black sesames to make Dong Candy. Therefore, the candy acquired more local distinctive features, and became honored as “Rugao Dong Candy”. At that time, Rugao was a must for anyone traveling around Jiangnan. People loved drinking, writing poems and banqueting there. Mao usually treated them with Dong candy that won so much public praise the fame of Dong Candy spread to the whole county.

After Dong passed away, the traditional craftsmanship of Rugao Dong Candy was handed down by Mao’s family.

Rugao Dong Candy, first called Qinhuai Dong Candy, has more than 300 years of history. Its craftsmanship spread out from Rugao and the candy is now also produced in Rucheng town. Thanks to its long history, Dong candy has spread to other counties of Nantong, and other cities of Yancheng, Dongtai, Taizhou, Yangzhou and South Jiangsu. The very mention of Dong Candy still provokes people’s delight, and it is people’s preferred gift when visiting relatives and friends.