The Chinese Winter

Well, this little multi-colored pearl-like thing in the syrup is called Tang Yuan in Chinese, which is made from glutinous rice balls in sweet syrup.

In China or Taiwan, Chinese normally have this on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year celebration, but in Malaysia or Singapore, the Chinese will have this chewy stuff in Dong Zhi, which translated as Winter Solstice.

Although we don’t have winter here in Malaysia, but the Chinese still celebrate Dong Zhi on 21st or 22nd of December every year, and it is a big day for the typical Chinese family, because the whole family have a reunion and children will have to eat Tang Yuan, in term of “EARNING” one more year of life.

The glutinous rice dough are normally in white and pink, but most of the children like the colorful dough, so mommies will try to make as many colors as they can, and don’t be surprise to see a bowl of rice dough in multi color.

However, Tang Yuan is not only served in sweet syrup, but you can have it in salty soup or even coconut syrup, it depends on what do you like.

Now, I have few photos to share in advance, because the local Chinese association organized a Tang Yuan making competition today, and I managed to take some photo to put in my blog.

Have fun and I will put more on 22nd December.

Tag: Rice, Dessert, Food, Dough, Winter.