Dragon’s Beard Candy

This little stall is always set up outside Feng Shui restaurant although I’m not sure there is any connection to the restaurant.
A little sign proclaims that this confectionery was invented for an emperor several millennia ago.
It’s fascinating to watch as the chef starts with a piece of maltose sugar, which is elastic and this is formed into a ring shaped and with repeated dipping into toasted flour to keep the strands separate, is repeatedly stretched and twisted with each repetition tripling the number of strands.
The final resulting collection of fine strands is then divided into small bunches which are put around crushed peanuts. Eaten immediately, these are soft and quite moreish. The chef says that these can be kept in the fridge but they will turn hard.
It’s entertainment as much as food which draws the crowds. Fun to watch but prices are a bit steep at £3 for one box and £10 for 4 boxes.