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Buy Chinese snacks: how to choose sweet-and-sour, chewy and authentic snacks online

Buying Chinese snacks can offer a surprisingly wide range of choices. The selection includes Chinese sweets, Chinese fruit snacks, hawthorn snacks, tanghulu, dried plums, candied fruit and red dates. The differences aren't just in flavour, but also in texture, portion size, sweeteners, salt and allergens.

If you rely solely on a colourful packet or a familiar flavour name, you could end up with a product that doesn't quite suit how you plan to use it. With the points below, you can compare Chinese snacks online in a practical way.

Common pitfalls when buying Chinese snacks

1. A traditional name doesn't always tell you about the ingredients

Tanghulu traditionally refers to fruit with a sugar coating, but a modern packet may have a different composition or texture. Hawthorn snacks also come as strips, slices, sweets or filled varieties. So always check the ingredients list, not just the product name.

Pay particular attention to:

  • the proportion of fruit or hawthorn;
  • added sugar, syrup or sweeteners;
  • colourings, preservatives and food acids;
  • the mention of allergens such as sulphites, gluten, sesame or phenylalanine.

2. "Fruit" doesn't automatically mean low sugar

Dried fruits and candied fruit often contain naturally concentrated sugars. Sugar, glucose syrup or maltose syrup may also have been added. So compare the nutritional values per 100 grams. What's more, a small bag may contain a larger portion than you'd expect from the packaging.

3. A large pack isn't always better value

A 500g jar of Chinese sweets can be handy for sharing, but it's less suitable if you want variety or only snack occasionally. Individually wrapped snacks are practical for school, the office or on the go, whereas a bulk pack is better suited to a party or a family.

Three things to check before you buy

1. Flavour profile and texture

Sweet-and-sour snacks made from hawthorn often have a distinctively tangy taste. Hawthorn strips are usually soft and chewy, while dried red dates are more fleshy and naturally sweet. Jellies and lollies have a softer or harder bite, depending on the product.

Choose based on the occasion:

  • For slow snacking: dried plums or chewy hawthorn snacks.
  • For sharing: tanghulu, sweet mixes or individually wrapped rolls.
  • For a softer texture: lychee jelly or fruit strips.
  • For use in tea or desserts: red dates or candied fruit.

2. Ingredients and allergens

EU regulations require that major allergens are clearly listed. Check this extra carefully for products containing sesame, gluten, milk ingredients or sulphites. For example, the Haoxiangni red date and black sesame balls list sesame as an allergen. Some products may also contain traces of soya, wheat, peanuts, nuts or milk.

The warning about sweeteners is also important. Jiajianzheng Prune contains aspartame, among other things, and states it is a source of phenylalanine. That's relevant information for anyone who needs to avoid phenylalanine.

3. Storage, portion and shelf life

Most of the products mentioned should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. After opening, it's important to seal them well to prevent drying out or moisture absorption. Check the best-before date on the packaging; it can vary from batch to batch.

Also pay attention to the portion size:

  • 50 to 120 grams is ideal for personal use;
  • 150 to 200 grams is practical for sharing at home;
  • 390 to 800 grams is mainly suitable for stocking up, parties or multiple people.

Our recommendations by user profile

Suitable for: Budget-conscious beginners
O‘Say Hawthorn slices 150g

O‘Say Hawthorn slices 150g

Why this fits the profile: A straightforward 150g pack with a simple ingredients list of white sugar and hawthorn.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The ingredients are listed concisely, so you can quickly check what you're buying. The product description does not mention allergens.

Key benefit & plus points

150g, ready to open and a soft, chewy texture according to the product information.

Suitable for: Shoppers looking for top quality
Bestore Candied Hawthorn 100g

Bestore Candied Hawthorn 100g

Why this fits the profile: For those seeking a classic combination of hawthorn and sugar in a compact pack.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The fruit content is stated as 67.73%, so you can compare the composition concretely.

Key benefit & plus points

100g, 299 kcal per 100g according to the label and suitable for eating straight away.

Suitable for: Specific use & heavy users
Be&Cheery King Plum Bucket 500g

Be&Cheery King Plum Bucket 500g

Why this fits the profile: A bulk pack with 70 individual portions for the office, visitors or times when you want a variety of flavours.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The five named plum varieties make the flavour choice clearer than a bag with one unspecified fruit flavour.

500g with individual wrappers. Note: the ingredients list sulphites, sweeteners and 3.1g of salt per 100g.
Suitable for: Fans of playful textures
O'Say Hawthorn Skewers Tanghulu 108 g

O'Say Hawthorn Skewers Tanghulu 108 g

Why this fits the profile: The stick shape and described soft outer layer with a liquid filling give this snack a different eating experience from ordinary hawthorn strips.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The product page states a clear ratio of 51.19% hawthorn and 48.81% white sugar.

Key benefit & plus points

108g, ready to eat and suitable for sharing. Always check the usage instructions on the packaging for children.

Looking for more options?

We've put together a full, up-to-date list of products that fully meet these strict selection criteria and current European safety regulations.

Ordering Chinese snacks online: a practical checklist

Use this short list before you check out:

  1. Does the texture match your preference: chewy, jelly, crunchy or hard?
  2. Is the fruit or hawthorn content clearly stated?
  3. Have allergens, sweeteners and sulphites been checked?
  4. Is the packaging suitable for personal use or sharing?
  5. Can you store the snack in a cool, dry place?
  6. Does the nutritional value match what you're looking for?

Brand names and product claims are no substitute for the ingredients list. According to a brand's own research, a product might be described as "natural" or "healthy"; so judge mainly by the verifiable information on the label.

Frequently asked questions about buying Chinese snacks

Where can I order Chinese snacks online?

You can order Chinese snacks online via the Chinese sweets category. There you'll find hawthorn snacks, Chinese dried fruits, red dates, jellies, lollies and dried plums, among others. Check the ingredients, nutritional values, allergens and storage instructions for each product.

What are hawthorn snacks?

Hawthorn snacks are snacks made from hawthorn, often combined with sugar. They are available as hawthorn strips, slices, rolls or tanghulu. The flavour is usually sweet-and-sour and the texture ranges from soft to firmly chewy.

How long do Chinese dried fruits keep?

The shelf life is stated on the packaging and varies by product. Store the packaging according to the instructions, usually in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Seal an opened bag or jar well and watch for changes in smell, colour or texture.