What the ancients called Fuyuanzi refers to glutinous rice balls.

Tangyuan, also known as Fu Yuanzi, is one of the representative snacks of Han Chinese.

Tangyuan originated in the Song Dynasty. Its outer shell is mainly composed of glutinous rice flour. It is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It belongs to the spleen, stomach and lung meridian. It is rich in carbohydrates, calcium, iron, riboflavin, niacin, etc., and has the benefit of nourishing the body.

It has the therapeutic effects of relieving qi, arresting sweat and stopping diarrhea.

The method of making it is to bake the black sesame seeds in the oven, then pour them into a wall breaker to break them, pour the butter into the pot, when it melts, pour in the white sugar, stir continuously until the white sugar melts; pour in the black sesame seeds,

Stir until thick. Roll the black sesame filling into small balls and freeze. Pour in glutinous rice flour and lard. Add 45-50℃ hot water in three batches to form a dough. Knead for about 5 minutes. Shape the dough into small pieces.

Wrap in frozen black sesame balls, freeze overnight, take out and bag.

Glutinous rice flour, sugar and fat content in glutinous rice balls are high, which may induce ketoacidosis; glutinous rice balls are high in fat and calories, and excessive consumption can easily increase blood lipids and weight; the elderly and infirm have reduced digestive function, especially the swallowing reflex of the elderly

It is relatively slow and may cause aspiration due to dysphagia, so it should be consumed in small amounts.

Yuanxiao and glutinous rice balls are similar, but one of the differences between the two is that the filling of glutinous rice balls contains more water than that of yuanxiao.

The earliest record of eating Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival can be found in the Song Dynasty.

At that time, Yuanxiao was called "Fuyuanzi", "Yuanzi", "Lactose Yuanzi" and "Tangyuan".

Judging from the records of historical materials such as "Pingyuan Xuedao", "Sui Shiguangji" and "Da Ming Yitong Fu", Yuanxiao as a seasonal food for celebrating the Lantern Festival began in the Song Dynasty.

Because "yuanzi" must be eaten during the Lantern Festival, people named it after the Lantern Festival.