Cook this
The working recipe — the Market List, the Method, and where it lives or dies
I
Origin
Buddhist temples of China — the festival has been observed since the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE)
II
Description
La ba zhou: the ritual congee of La Ba Festival (8th day of 12th lunar month, approximately January). Eight or more ingredients simmered together: glutinous rice, red dates, lotus seeds, goji berries, longans, peanuts, walnuts, mung beans, adzuki beans. The dish commemorates Buddha's enlightenment and marks the beginning of Chinese New Year preparations.
III
The Thread
—Japanese oshiruko (sweet red bean soup)
—Korean shikhye (sweet rice drink)
—Western oatmeal with dried fruits and nuts
IV
Flavour Context
Warm, sweet, multi-textured — glutinous, creamy, nutty, with dried fruit sweetness and herbal complexity
Pillars V — VII
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