Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup (Tang Busat)

Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup (Tang Busat)

　　　The origin of these “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” is said to be connected with the Eight Immortals. In the 19th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty, many people in the Dongkeng area were addicted to opium. In early spring, on the second day of the second lunar month, because of the rampant drug problem and the people's suffering, there were very few strong and healthy men who came to Dongkeng to participate in the “Selling-Self Festival” to be hired by wealthy landlords—most were sallow and emaciated, their strength diminished. Upon hearing this, Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals from the Great Eight Caves, swiftly prepared a miraculous elixir to cure the addiction and save the people. However, the medicine tasted bitter, and descending to the mortal world without permission would violate heavenly laws. So, the immortal hid the elixir inside glutinous rice balls, cooked them in sweet syrup to create soft, smooth, and delicious “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” (symbolizing that “the sugar sticks to the elixir and never separates”), disguised himself as an old man carrying a shoulder pole and peddling his wares, and gave the treats away or sold them at low prices from the start to the end of the market. After eating them, people indeed overcame their opium addiction, regaining both physical strength and mental clarity. They could even recite the 24 solar terms backward, and thus the Dongkeng “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” became famous far and wide.

　　Making Dongkeng’s “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” is simple. Simply cook glutinous rice flour until done, roll it into little balls, then boil them in hot syrup in an iron pot, and finally sprinkle with crushed fried peanuts or shredded fried egg to serve. The taste is definitely crispy-smooth, sweet and delicious, appetizing yet not greasy, fragrant and rich, suitable for all ages.

　　It is also said that “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” are associated with romantic relationships. In the old days, in the “Putian Region” covering areas like Dongkeng, Chashan, and Hengli, attitudes toward marriage were rather conservative, let alone the idea of free love as we know it today. Whenever a matchmaker brought a young man to a girl’s family for a “meeting,” if the parents agreed to the marriage, they would serve “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” to the groom-to-be. Seeing the dish served, the man would understand that the marriage was “not going to be shaken off”—in other words, it was set. Then, everything would go smoothly—he’d eat bowl after bowl, showing his willingness for double happiness. But if the girl’s family did not approve of the match, they would serve a sweet soup of tofu skin with scrambled eggs. Spotting that dish, the man would get the message that the engagement was “scattered” or broken off, and he’d wisely back off and not pester the family anymore. Though the “tofu skin sweet soup” might taste sweet, it would leave a bitter feeling in the heart. He’d hurriedly take a sip and then take his leave. Elders in Dongkeng are all very familiar with such stories.

　　There are many interesting tales about “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup.” It is said that in 1883, the ninth year of the Guangxu Emperor’s reign, Empress Dowager Cixi ended her regency and Guangxu began to rule directly. He opened the path for talent and reinstated the national imperial examinations. Ding Renchang, a poor but talented scholar from Dingwu Village in Dongkeng, traveled to the capital to take the exams, sustaining himself along the way with the “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” cakes made by his mother. After the exams, he was personally selected by Emperor Guangxu as a Jinshi (successful candidate) in the Guimou Imperial Examination and was honored with the title of “Hanlin Bachelor Scholar,” causing a sensation in his hometown. To this day, there is a stone tablet in Dingwu Village to commemorate the event.

　　Times have changed, but the snack “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup” has spread across cities and towns in the province and Hong Kong. Friends, when you come to Dongkeng, don’t forget to try the authentic “Sticky Rice Balls in Sweet Soup.”