Rock candy is often dissolved in tea. It is an important part of the
tea culture of
East Frisia, where a lump of rock sugar (locally called "Kandis") is placed at the bottom of the cup. Rock candy consumed with tea is also the most common and popular way of drinking tea in Iran, where it is called
nabat; the most popular nabat flavor is
saffron. Rock candy is also prepared in
Central Asia under the name of
novvot. It is a common ingredient in Chinese cooking. In China, it is used to sweeten
chrysanthemum tea, as well as
Cantonese dessert soups and the liquor
baijiu. Many households have rock candy available to marinate meats, add to stir fry, and to prepare food such as yao shan. In less modern times, rock sugar was a luxury only for the wealthy. Rock candy is also regarded as having medicinal properties, and in some Chinese provinces, it is used as a part of
traditional Chinese medicine. In Mexico, it is used during the
Day of the Dead to make sugar skulls, often highly decorated. Sugar skulls are given to children so they will not fear death; they are also offered to the dead. In the
Friesland province of the Netherlands, bits of rock candy are baked in the luxury white bread
sûkerbôle. Rock candy is a common ingredient in
Tamil cuisine, particularly in the Sri Lankan city of
Jaffna. In the US, rock candy comes in many colors and flavors, and is slightly hard to find, due to it being considered old-fashioned. ==Mishri==