Lunar New Year, the most vibrant and cherished festival for all Chinese, carries enduring cultural heritage of the nation. Among its many time-honored customs, making hand-pulled maltose is one of the sweet connections between generations.

This ancient-looking building is the Wu's Confectionery, which has been here for over a century, now running by the 6th generation, Miss Wu. She still remembers her childhood, the kitchen was small, equipped with only simple tools. Her grandpa and her father worked so late to soak malt, steam rice, and ferment.

After taking over the shop, Miss Wu enlarged the kitchen and upgraded the facilities. By replacing manual monitoring by auto temperature control and timer in fermentation, masters could focus more on the next step - stewing, which relies more on experience.

Sweets are must-have snacks in Lunar New Year, which symbolize sweetness and happiness. Maltose is a common ingredient in many traditional sweets, such as peanut brittle, sesame candies, and the most sought-after ‘Tanghulu’, the candied fruits. Confectionery always smells sweet, bringing every customer a joyful mood in new year.