This winter, the streets of Ordos are abuzz with a new culinary sensation: milk skin tanghulu – sugar-coated fresh fruits wrapped in velvety milk skin, seamlessly blending the traditional street snack tanghulu with the distinctive "grassland flavor" of locally handmade milk skin.

The classic hawthorn tanghulu paired with milk skin strikes a perfect balance between sour and sweet. The sharp, fragrant acidity of the hawthorn harmonizes with the rich, creamy milk skin, while the subtle milky flavor tempers the sweetness of the sugar coating, leaving a lingering, delicate aftertaste.

The classic hawthorn tanghulu wrapped in velvety milk skin. [Photo/WeChat account of Nuan News]

The strawberry and grape milk skin tanghulu features a tasty blend of juicy fruits, a crisp sugar coat and soft milk skins, creating a trio of contrasting yet harmonious flavors.

The highlight of these tanghulu snacks – the milk skin – is handmade by Ordos' nomadic herders. The fresh milk is simmered over low heat for hours until the milk fat naturally coagulates and forms a thin, flexible sheet, then lifted without any additives. This authentic prairie flavor gives this viral treat its unique local charm.

"I noticed milk skin tanghulu trending online and saw an opportunity to promote Ordos' local specialty," said Wu Hongyu, a tanghulu store owner from Otog Banner. "I began making them and was surprised by their popularity. We offer four to five flavors, and all the milk skin is sourced directly from local herders."

Suyalaqimuge, a herder from Otog Banner, said, "Thanks to the surge in demand for milk skin tanghulu, our orders for the milk skin have increased by about 30 percent."