When talking about Winter Solstice delicacies, are dumplings and glutinous rice balls the first thing that comes to your mind? If your first reaction is dumplings, then you are 90% from the north. If it is glutinous rice balls, then you are 90% from the south. Suddenly I learned another good trick on how to distinguish people from the north and the south, haha.
In fact, in many places, dumplings or glutinous rice balls are not eaten during the Winter Solstice. Each place has different customs, so the Winter Solstice delicacies derived from it are also diverse. Next, I will take you to get to know those you A winter solstice delicacy I’ve never heard of!
1. Leiyuan, Zhejiang Taizhou
People in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province are fond of delicious food. Among them, eating "Winter Solstice Yuan" (Leiyuan, also called hard Leiyuan, Fan roughyuan) is a traditional custom in Taizhou. Traditionally, "winter solstice round" is also called round, hard round, rough round, which means roundness and reunion.
The highlight of the Winter Solstice is the round making. Compared with the glutinous rice balls eaten on weekdays, Linhai people’s Winter Solstice dumplings are not only rich in content and different forms, but also have profound meanings.
Leiyuan is made by kneading glutinous rice flour and warm water into a dough, then cutting it into moderately sized balls and rolling them into balls. After they are cooked, they are rolled in bean yellow powder and mixed. This process is called "Lei" in Linhai dialect. , so the winter solstice circle is named "Leiyuan".
Take a round ball filled with soy flour and take a bite while it is hot. It will be fragrant, sweet, warm and soft, and a feeling of happiness will arise spontaneously. In addition to the classic sweet dumplings, there are also winter solstice dumplings that many families like to eat salty. Salty dumplings are stuffings placed in glutinous rice balls, stuffed with diced pork, dried tofu, winter bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, white radish, etc. They can be steamed or boiled. Fresh and juicy, with a special flavor.
2. Taiwanese glutinous cakes
Taiwanese glutinous cakes are made from glutinous rice flour and made into chickens, ducks, turtles, pigs, cows, sheep and other animals that symbolize auspiciousness, happiness, wealth and longevity. Add your favorite ingredients such as bean paste, sesame seeds, coconut milk, etc., and then steam them in layers using a steamer. In our country, Taiwan still preserves the tradition of using nine-layer cakes to worship ancestors during the Winter Solstice, which has been passed down from generation to generation to show that we do not forget our ancestors and our own "roots".
3. Jiangxi Mochi
Mochi is a specialty of Zhejiang and Jiangxi. It is also a famous snack in southern Fujian and an offering by Fujian people during their sacrifices. Among them, the mochi produced in Nan'an Yingdu is the most famous. Its raw materials are fine glutinous rice, lard, sesame seeds, peanut kernels, rock sugar, etc. Mochi is sweet and delicious, and it resists hunger after eating. It has a sweet and smooth texture, and is soft, tough and slightly icy. The finished product is bright white in color, smooth, tough and transparent.
“The weather, people, events, and the sun are all working together, and the winter solstice brings the sun and spring comes again.” From the winter solstice to the minor cold and major cold, it is the coldest season. While enjoying delicious food, everyone should also pay attention to keeping warm! Happy Winter Solstice to everyone!