The name "Yuanxiao" comes from the Lantern Festival. In the past, because of the low yield of glutinous rice in the north, Yuanxiao could only be regarded as a special food on the fifteenth day of the first month, and naming this food as "Yuanxiao" also reflected the tradition of "not eating from time to time". In southern China, where the output of glutinous rice is more abundant, this kind of food made of glutinous rice stuffing is quite common. "Tangyuan" is taken from the literal meaning of "Yuanzi in soup" and takes the auspicious meaning of "reunion" because of its similar pronunciation to "reunion".

Since ancient times, there have been great cultural differences between the north and the south, especially in terms of diet. It is also because of different regions that glutinous rice balls are distinguished. However, whether it is glutinous rice balls in the north or glutinous rice balls in the south, their edible meanings are all symbols of family reunion, harmony and happiness, so as to express their thoughts for distant relatives and pin their good wishes for life.

The difference between Yuanxiao and Tangyuan

1, making methods are different.

The north "rolls" Yuanxiao, and the south "wraps" glutinous rice balls. It is time-consuming and labor-intensive to cut the reconciled and solidified stuffing into small square pieces and roll them into circles on dry glutinous rice flour. The making method of glutinous rice balls is a little simpler. First, glutinous rice flour is used as the skin, and then the stuffing is wrapped like jiaozi, and kneaded into a circle.

2. Different fillings

The stuffing of Yuanxiao is relatively simple, and the traditional Yuanxiao is mainly sweet stuffing, mostly white sugar sesame seeds, sweet-scented osmanthus and so on. Tangyuan is usually richer in fillings, covering sweet, salty and meat.

3. The taste and soup are different

The taste of Yuanxiao is hard, and because of the sticky glutinous rice flour, the soup cooked by Yuanxiao will be slightly thicker. Tangyuan tastes soft. Because the dough is kneaded in advance, it won't stick a lot of loose powder like Yuanxiao, so the soup is light and won't feel thick when cooking.

4, the shelf life is different

Generally speaking, Yuanxiao is not suitable for freezing and has a short shelf life. The dumplings can be preserved for a long time after freezing.