Our first cooking event this spring took place by the end of the Lunar New Year, spotlighting tangyuan.
Tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán), traditionally served during the Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuánxiāojié), the 15th day of the first month of a lunar year, is a traditional Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice. With ball-shaped as its signature look, it may have different sizes and flavors. Sesame and red bean are some of the most popular fillings, and tonight the red bean one was here.
Being a homophone for union (团圆, tuányuán), the name of tangyuan holds an essence of togetherness and wholeness, resonating with the first full moon of the year occurring on the 15th day of the month. Winter passes with spring arriving; may spring blossom joyfully.
(pictures by Chinese Corridor, 2/8/2023; post by Entzu Chang, 2/8/2023)