Big Lao Li’s Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)

Big Lao Li’s Tangyuan

　　Tangyuan, anciently known as floating round balls, are traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, also called Yuanxiao Night. Hence, eating tangyuan is often referred to as eating yuanxiao. At “Big Lao Li’s Tangyuan,” a specialty snack shop in Shinan District, Qingdao, the essence of tradition is captured and innovated through a unique sixteen-character craftsmanship philosophy: “stone-ground glutinous rice flour, stone-milled fillings, hand-wrapped, made-to-order.” This approach creates a distinctive style that has won widespread popularity among customers.

　　The characteristics of Big Lao Li’s Tangyuan are: smooth, soft, sticky yet not tooth-sticking, refreshing, fragrant, sweet but not cloying. They are small, perfectly round, with thin skins and generous fillings. Simply drop them into boiling water, and they float up when ready—perfect for modern, fast-paced lifestyles. In terms of varieties, besides keeping popular flavors such as black sesame, peanut, soybean, red bean paste, date paste, osmanthus, rose, fruit, and eight-treasure fillings, the shop also offers sugar-free options using carefully selected ingredients, including sugar-free black sesame, peanut, soybean, and red bean paste tangyuan. Especially notable are the seafood, fresh meat, mushroom and greens, and medicinal-style chicken leg and mushroom tangyuan developed with local Qingdao flavors, which effectively address the dietary concerns of diabetics and those seeking to avoid sugar.

　　Big Lao Li also prepares sweet fermented rice (jiuniang) and mini tangyuan for southern Chinese customers. Awarded: Qingdao Featured Snack Title. Shandong Famous Snack Title.