麻花是油炸食品之一，外形呈铰链形，故又称“铰链棒”。有甜、咸两味之分。甜味的又有拌糖的(外表撒砂糖粉)和不拌糖的区别。

Fried dough twist, known in Chinese as mahua, is a traditional deep-fried snack with a signature braided, rope-like shape—hence its nickname, the “hinge stick”. It comes in both sweet and savory varieties. The sweet version may be mixed with sugar and dusted with powdered sugar on the outside, while the plain version offers a more neutral taste.

在众多麻花之中，天津麻花独此一份的好吃，早在一百多年以前，在天津卫海河西侧，繁华喧闹的小白楼南端，有一条名为十八街的巷子，原来巷子之中有一家小小的麻花铺，字号唤作“桂发祥”。

Among the many regional styles of mahua, Tianjin Mahua is especially famous for its unique flavor and craftsmanship. Over a hundred years ago, on the west bank of the Weihai River in Tianjin, near the lively southern end of Xiaobailou, there was a small alley called 18th Street. Tucked away in this alley was a modest shop named Guifaxiang—the birthplace of the now-iconic 18th Street Mahua.

经过反复探索进行创新，十八街麻花在白条和麻条中间夹一条含有桂花、闵姜、桃仁、瓜条等多种小料的酥馅，使炸出的麻花酥软香甜与众不同，这种什锦夹馅大麻花特点是香、酥、脆、甜，在干燥通风处放置数月不走味，不绵软、不变质。

After years of refining the recipe, Guifaxiang developed a unique version that layers crisp fillings—such as sweet-scented osmanthus, ginger, peach kernels, and candied melon—between white flour strands and sesame strands. This technique gives the finished twist a rich texture: crisp on the outside, subtly sweet and aromatic on the inside. One of the defining features of Tianjin Mahua is its long shelf life. Even after being stored in a dry, well-ventilated space for several months, it retains its signature flavor and crispness without becoming soft or stale.

责编：刘冰