"Melon" is a sticky sugar made of yellow rice and malt. The candy that is drawn into a long strip is called "Guandong Sugar", and the candy that is drawn into a flat circle is called "honeydew melon". At present, the materials of honeydew melon in wheat field are rice and malt, and the ratio of materials is 3: 1, that is, 3 kg of rice to malt 1 kg; Usually, for every honeydew melon, 30 kilograms of malt is prepared first, and it is fermented and germinated for later use; Then cook 90 kilograms of rice, mix it with fermented malt, add 8-9 barrels of water, each barrel is about 50 kilograms, then cook it with fire and pull it into melons at a proper temperature. Generally, it takes 6-8 people to make these honeydew melons a day.
Guandong sugar is also called stove sugar, big sugar and hemp sugar. It is an ancient traditional name of the Han nationality. It is not only a food for Chinese New Year holidays, but also a sacrifice (kitchen god). After one year, it will only be sold around the next year.
Kwantung sugar is a sugar product made of malt and millet. It is used to worship the kitchen god. Some people say it is made of sugar, starch, water and amylase. The Chronicle of Yanjing Years written by the Qing Dynasty records that there are "Guandong Sugar" and "Sugar Cake" in the offerings of the Qing Dynasty.
Guandong sugar is sold in rural areas, cities, streets and markets in Northeast China: "Big sugar, big sugar, crispy big sugar." A large piece of milky white sugar, placed on a square plate, is usually three inches long and one inch wide, flat and silky. A large piece of newly-made candy tastes crisp, fragrant and sticky and has a special taste. It is a kind of candy that is very popular among men, women and children in Kanto.
"Honey melons worship the stove and come for the New Year"; "Twenty-three, honeydew melons are sticky, and the kitchen god wants to go to heaven." Ceremonies for offering sacrifices to stoves are held on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, which are called "Festival for offering sacrifices to stoves", "Sending stoves" or "Farewell to stoves". Legend has it that Kitchen God is a star in the sky. He sits in the middle of the kitchen stove in people's homes and records people's daily life, good and evil behavior. Until the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the sky reported to the Jade Emperor, so people had to sacrifice the stove and put the mouth of the Kitchen God on it, so that it would "speak well in the sky and keep peace on the ground". When offering sacrifices, the statue of Kitchen God, which has been dedicated for one year, will be uncovered and burned as a sacrifice to heaven.