Tangyuan (汤圆 — Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls in Soup)
Jiangnan region — now a national Chinese tradition
Round glutinous rice balls with sweet fillings (black sesame paste, sweet red bean, peanut, lard-sugar combinations) served in clear broth or sweet ginger broth. Eaten during Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao) and winter solstice. The round shape symbolises family reunion and wholeness. Different from tang yuan 元宵 (northern style) which are made by shaking the filling in glutinous rice flour.