Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Dumplings)

Don Zhi or winter solstice is a very important event in the Chinese custom. Dong Zhi is also known as Tang Check by the Peranakan which means the arrival of winter. It also signifies the longest night in the year. On this day the Peranakan will make Tang Yuan or Kuih Ee to signify the arrival of winter. By eating this Kuih Ee, it will mean that we will be a year older. 

In the Peranakan culture, this round shaped rice ball symbolizes togetherness and completeness of the family. The balls have to shaped till it is smooth and perfectly round. I remember when I was a child my grandmother will make me help her shape these balls. She would tell me that I have to make them as round, smooth and tiny as I can as it will mean that the my face will be as smooth and beautiful as the Kuih Ee. I was teaching my daughter how to make Kuih Ee one evening. I told her what my grandmother told me about the shape and texture of the kuih. She spent the next half hour to an hour ensuring that every ball she made was tiny, smooth and round as she wanted to ensure that her face would be beautiful when she grew up.

Tang Yuan is made of glutinous rice. In the past, they just came in pink and white and served in syrup.  These days it comes in different colours like pink, white, green, yellow, blue and orange. Some are even filled with red bean, black sesame and peanut paste. I still love the traditional ones which are simple and nice just the way they are.

My girls love them too.