Pear candy has been around for over 2,300 years, since the Tang Dynasty. The Prime Minister Weizhen's mother got sick, and was afraid to take medicine. Her son did not know what to do. One of the emperor's doctors decided to help. He took herbal medicine and condensed it. He then mixed it with pear juice and sugar. This mixture being sweet and delicious made it easy for the mother to take. From then on, the doctor used this technique to cure people of their chills or cough. It was used exclusively by the Imperial household for over one hundred years until the technique leaked out to the general public. This medicine is still being produced, and because it is so delicious, it is called candy. The ingredients in Pear Candy have remained relatively unchanged for over 2,000 years. The candy today is still used to relieve cough and asthma, act as expectorant and work up people's appetites. The Shanghai Pear Candy Store is the exclusive retailer for Pear Candy. It is located in the Yu Garden Shopping Center.