Tangyuan and Lantern Festival are both traditional foods that must be eaten during the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, they are similar in appearance and have roughly the same filling, but in fact, there are some differences between the two in terms of production process, taste and preservation methods.
First, the production process
Glutinous rice balls: The method of making glutinous rice balls is similar to making dumplings, first mix glutinous rice flour and water into a ball, take a small piece after standing, press it into a round sheet with the palm of your hand, and then wrap the filling in it and pinch it into a round ball.
Lantern Festival: The process of making Lantern Festival is more cumbersome, first make the filling into small squares, then sieve the glutinous rice flour into fine powder, put the filling pieces into a basket containing glutinous rice flour, and shake it constantly to make the filling roll into the glutinous rice flour until it becomes a round ball.
Second, the taste
Glutinous rice balls: The glutinous rice skin of the glutinous rice balls is thinner, the filling has a high water content, and the taste is soft and sweet after cooking, and the soup is relatively rich.
Lantern Festival: The glutinous rice skin of the Lantern Festival is thicker, the filling has a lower water content, the taste is more solid and chewy after cooking, and the soup is relatively light.
3. Storage methods
Glutinous rice balls: The shelf life of glutinous rice balls is short, generally stored in frozen conditions for about 3 months, and refrigerated storage can only be stored for 1-2 days.
Lantern Festival: The shelf life of the Lantern Festival is relatively long, it can be stored at room temperature, and the shelf life can reach about half a year.
How to distinguish tangyuan from Lantern Festival?
Look at the shape: The surface of the glutinous rice balls is smooth, round or oval; The surface of the Lantern Festival is rough, grainy, and irregularly round.
Feel to the touch: The dumplings are soft to the touch and slightly sticky; The Lantern Festival is relatively dry to the touch and not sticky to your hands.
Observe after cooking: The glutinous rice balls are not easy to break the skin after cooking, and the soup is rich; The Lantern Festival is easy to break the skin after cooking, and the soup is light.
Here's how to quickly distinguish between tangyuan and lantern festival:
Pinch it with your handsIf the surface is smooth and easy to knead into a ball, it is a glutinous rice ball; If the surface is rough and not easy to knead into a ball, it is a Lantern Festival.
Tips:
Both tangyuan and lantern festival contain high sugar content and should not be consumed in excess.
When cooking glutinous rice balls and Lantern Festival, pay attention to controlling the amount of water to avoid overflowing.
Tangyuan and Lantern Festival can be cooked and eaten directly, or they can be seasoned with spices such as brown sugar, osmanthus, and sesame seeds.
Conclusion
Tangyuan and Lantern Festival are both treasures of the traditional food culture of the Chinese nation, which not only convey people's yearning for a better life, but also contain the meaning of reunion. On the occasion of the Lantern Festival, you may wish to taste a bowl of tangyuan or Lantern Festival to feel the festive atmosphere of the traditional festival.
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