Tangyuan originated in the Song Dynasty, when Mingzhou (now Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province) rose as a novel food, that is, black sesame seeds and pig's suet were used as stuffing, a little sugar was added, and glutinous rice flour was rubbed into a round shape outside. After cooking, it tasted sweet and soft, with endless aftertaste.

At the same time, glutinous rice balls symbolize family reunion, and eating glutinous rice balls also means family happiness and reunion in the new year, so it is a must-have food for the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month.

Tangyuan symbolizes reunion and beauty, and places people's good expectations for life.

Tangyuan culture:

Eating glutinous rice balls is a traditional custom of Han people, especially in Jiangnan. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". "Ningbo Tangyuan" is a necessary food and a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating Tangyuan during festivals symbolizes family harmony and auspiciousness, so it is also called "Floating Yuanzi".

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the Lantern Festival, "Ningbo Tangyuan", as a food, has a long history in China. This kind of food was first called "Floating Yuanzi" and later called "Tangyuan", also known as Yuanxiao; "Tangyuan" is filled with sesame seeds, bean paste, walnut kernels, nuts, jujube paste, etc., and wrapped in glutinous rice flour into a round shape, which can be vegetarian and has different flavors. It can be boiled in soup, fried and steamed, which means a happy reunion.