It’s the winter solstice today, the shortest day of the year. While the shortest day of the year is a fun holiday, it’s also a perfect time to talk about seasonal eating.
Tangyuan is a traditional stone fruit from China. The fruit is so sour, it’s often described as tasting like lemons. Traditional tangyuan necklaces are made by hollowing out a chunk of the fruit and filling the cavity with sweeten, flavoring and seeds. If you made it yourself, the candy can be stored in the freezer until you are ready to make and consume it.
On December 21st, the winter solstice, the longest day of the year, and the longest night of the year, Chinese people celebrate “Tangyuan Festival”. Tangyuan are traditionally a type of dumpling that is filled with meat, but popular in recent years. In winter, people consume tangyuan to keep their bodies warm.
Happy Winter Solstice!
