Table of Contents
Is tangyuan a mochi?
If you never tried Tangyuan, Taiwanese chewy glutinous rice balls, it is a soft mochi dessert served on top of shaved ice or in sweet syrup soup. You can bulk make Tangyuan ahead of time and freeze them up to three months. Tangyuan is gluten-free and an easy dessert that is perfect for summer or winter.
What does tangyuan symbolize?
Tangyuan – Sweet Rice Balls It is a ball shape food made by glutinous rice flour. The shape and the pronunciation of tangyuan symbolize being together with your beloved one and family reunion.

What is tang yuan in English?
The direct translation of “tang yuan” is simply “soup ball,” but it also takes on other meanings. “The pronunciation of ‘tang yuan’ is very similar to [the Chinese phrase meaning] togetherness and the gathering of families,” says Zhang, who grew up in Beijing.
What are Chinese rice balls made of?
A popular snack all over China, glutinous rice balls, or tang yuan, are filled with red bean, sesame, peanut, and other sweet fillings that ooze out from mochi-like dumplings skins. The dumpling skins owe their pleasantly gummy texture to glutinous rice flour, which produces a chewier dough.

How do you pronounce tangyuan?
It is composed of two syllables: “Tang” and “Yuan”. “tea” + “art” + “sing”. /ɑ:ŋ/ is not /æŋ/ as in English “hang”. “ü” + “yen” (an is weakened into /en/ after ü).
Why do Chinese eat tangyuan?
Tangyuan is traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival, but because its name is a homophone for union (traditional Chinese: 團圓; simplified Chinese: 团圆; pinyin: tuányuán) and symbolizes togetherness and completeness, this dish is also served at weddings, family reunions, Chinese New Year, and the Dōngzhì (winter …
What kind of rice balls are there?
Types of Onigiri
- Wrapped Onigiri. The most common type of onigiri—and the one that you’ve probably seen in manga, anime, and TV dramas—is wrapped onigiri.
- Seasoned Onigiri.
- Yaki-Onigiri.
- Mixed Rice Onigiri.
- Onigirazu.
- Popular Onigiri Fillings.
Are rice balls Japanese or Chinese?
Onigiri (お握り or 御握り), also known as omusubi (お結び), nigirimeshi (握り飯), or rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori.
What are some onigiri fillings?
Common Onigiri Fillings
- Tuna Mayo (Sea Chicken, シーチキン・ツナマヨネーズ)
- Grilled Salmon Flakes (Yaki-shake/Beni-shake, 焼鮭・紅しゃけ)
- Pickled Plum (Ume, 梅)
- Salted Cod Roe (Tarako, たらこ)
- Seasoned Cod Roe (Mentaiko, 明太子)
- Dried Bonito Flakes (Okaka, おかか)
- Kelp Simmered in Soy Sauce (Kombu, 昆布)
- Grilled Salmon Cream Cheese (焼サーモンクリームチーズ)
Why Chinese eat glutinous rice balls?
For many Chinese families in mainland China as well as overseas, glutinous rice balls are typically eaten together with family. The round shape of the balls and the bowls in which they are served symbolizes family cohesion.