‘Mìjiàn’ (蜜饯) literally combines ‘mì’ (honey, sweet syrup) and ‘jiàn’ (to preserve or pickle), meaning fruit preserved in sugar syrup or honey until tender and sweet. It refers to a traditional Chinese confection made by simmering fruits like plums, apricots, or kumquats in concentrated sugar solution, often with added spices or citrus peel. The process removes moisture while infusing sweetness, resulting in chewy, glossy, intensely flavored treats.

Mìjiàn is commonly served as a snack, dessert, or accompaniment to tea, especially during festivals or as gifts in decorative tins. Though ‘mì’ suggests honey, modern versions usually use refined sugar; the term emphasizes the sweet preservation method rather than the specific sweetener. It belongs to the broader category of ‘gān guǒ’ (dried fruit), but differs from sun-dried or dehydrated fruit by its syrup-based preparation and soft texture.