Is it a custom to eat glutinous rice balls during the Lantern Festival? What is the origin and meaning of glutinous rice balls?

The round shape of glutinous rice balls reminds people of the bright moon hanging in the sky. The Lantern Festival is the first full moon day of the year. The full moon in the sky and the glutinous rice balls in the bowl symbolize reunion. Therefore, eating glutinous rice balls on the Lantern Festival expresses people's good wishes for family reunion. So, what is the custom of eating glutinous rice balls on the Lantern Festival? What is the origin and meaning of glutinous rice balls? Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network!

Contents of this article

1. The custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the Lantern Festival

2. The Origin and Meaning of Tangyuan

3. Why do glutinous rice balls turn yellow when put into the pot?

The custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the Lantern Festival

1. Good wishes

In addition, the pronunciation of tangyuan is similar to that of the word "tuanyuan", which means reunion and symbolizes reunion and beauty. People also use it to miss their separated relatives and express their good wishes for future life.

2. Benefits of eating glutinous rice balls

The main raw material of glutinous rice is glutinous rice. "Compendium of Materia Medica" points out that glutinous rice is a food that nourishes the spleen and stomach and benefits the lung qi. Glutinous rice is sweet and warm in nature, and can replenish qi and blood and nourish the spleen and stomach.

3. Notes

People with high blood lipids and diabetes must limit the amount of glutinous rice balls they eat. In addition, it is not advisable to eat too much glutinous rice balls. Although glutinous rice is good, it is not easy to digest. Eating too much will cause indigestion.

The Origin and Meaning of Tangyuan

Tangyuan originated in the Song Dynasty of China. At that time, a novel food was popular, which was to use black sesame and white sugar as fillings, and glutinous rice flour as the outer surface. The fillings were wrapped in it and rolled into balls. It tasted sweet and delicious, and was later called "tangyuan". Tangyuan symbolizes the reunion of every family and good luck.

Eating Yuanxiao on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is a common custom throughout the country. The name of Tangyuan is similar to the Chinese word "reunion", which symbolizes family reunion and also expresses people's wishes for a better life.

Tangyuan symbolizes a better family reunion. Eating tangyuan means family happiness and reunion in the new year, so it is a must-have food for the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

When eating glutinous rice balls, you can pair them with some spicy foods, such as onions, ginger, garlic, peppers, etc., to balance the sluggish effect brought by the glutinous rice balls and reduce damage to the spleen and stomach.

Why do glutinous rice balls turn yellow when put into the pot?

The reason why the glutinous rice balls turn yellow when put into the pot is that they are coated with a layer of corn starch, and the glutinous rice flour on the surface will melt into the water, so the glutinous rice balls will turn yellow when they are cooked. It is normal for the glutinous rice balls to turn slightly yellow, but if the glutinous rice balls turn very yellow or very red, they cannot be eaten.

The reason why the glutinous rice balls turn yellow after being put into the pot is that the surface of the raw glutinous rice balls is usually coated with some dry glutinous rice flour, and the color of the raw glutinous rice balls will appear whiter. However, in the process of cooking the glutinous rice balls, the glutinous rice flour on the surface will melt into the water. In addition, the glutinous rice balls themselves are made of glutinous rice flour, so they will appear yellowish.

It should be noted that it is normal for the glutinous rice balls to turn slightly yellow after being put into the pot, and it will not affect normal consumption. However, if the glutinous rice balls turn extremely yellow, it is not recommended to continue eating them, because the glutinous rice flour used to make the glutinous rice balls is likely to have been contaminated by a bacterium called Flavobacterium oryzae, which turns yellow or red when heated.

If you eat glutinous rice balls that are particularly yellow or red after cooking, you may experience digestive discomfort, such as diarrhea and vomiting. If you eat too much, it may even cause symptoms such as heart rhythm disorders, liver enlargement, and coma.