Mài yá táng or maltose syrup is a natural sweetener originating from China, made from fermented grains such as rice, wheat, corn, and barley. The name is slightly deceiving, as maltose is more viscous than a syrup.

Maltose (麦芽糖, mài yá táng), also known as maltose syrup, is a super thick syrup that’s commonly used in traditional Chinese cooking. It is the secret ingredient that gives char siu its beautiful glossy look.

Maltose may have been produced in China since the Shang dynasty and, as the name suggests, is made from malt — that is, grains of cereal soaked in water until they germinate. It is naturally, neutrally sweet, but it differs in taste and texture from table sugar because of small chemical differences between the two.