As the Lantern Festival lights up homes across China, one sweet tradition takes center stage: sticky rice balls called tangyuan and yuanxiao. These chewy, globe-shaped treats aren’t just delicious—they symbolize family unity and prosperity. 🏮✨
In southern regions like Shanghai, tangyuan steals the spotlight. Imagine soft glutinous rice dough wrapped around fillings like black sesame paste or red bean—think of it as the OG dumpling of desserts! 🖤🍡
But head north to Beijing, and it’s all about yuanxiao. Here, chefs use a shake-it-till-you-make-it method: rolling fillings in a bamboo tray filled with dry rice flour, layer by layer, until they’re perfectly round. It’s like a culinary snowball fight! 🌨️👩🍳
Why the difference? Local ingredients and climate shaped these methods over centuries. CGTN’s recent visit to a Beijing pastry shop showed how modern kitchens keep this ancient technique alive—proving tradition can be both Instagram-worthy and mouthwatering. 📸🥄
