Sweet Tea Boiled Glutinous Rice Balls

Sweet Tea Boiled Glutinous Rice Balls

　　is a specialty of Pingyao County, Jinzhong, Shanxi. Like most places in China, people in Pingyao eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The locals are skilled at making yuanxiao, using brown sugar, white sugar, sesame seeds, candied fruits, osmanthus, and nuts to make the filling. They then cut the filling into pieces, dip the surface in water, and use a sieve-rolling method where the pieces gradually stick to glutinous rice flour and roll into round shapes. These can be boiled, deep-fried, or made into candied threads when served. This is the traditional way of eating them.

　　   I saw a large bowl of sweet tea boiled glutinous rice balls being served at a banquet. According to an aunt who had just returned from Yuncheng, this is a recently popular way of serving them, especially beloved by all ages at wedding banquets and birthday parties. She said it wasn’t available the last time she visited a few years ago.

　　  This was the final sweet dish served at the banquet: glutinous rice balls and sweet tea. With extremely simple ingredients and easy preparation, the combination created an irresistible flavor that kept everyone going back for more.

　　   We stepped away from the table and watched others bustling about in the courtyard as they prepared for the next round of seating. We ordered another bowl of sweet tea boiled glutinous rice balls and sipped it in the yard. It was a bit chilly outside, which made the warm drink perfect for keeping the cold at bay.

　　  Perhaps the memory of that bowl of sweet tea was just too delightful. My companion, who has a particular sweet tooth, couldn’t resist buying sweet tea wherever she saw it. Sweet tea is also a famous and ubiquitous sweet food in Shanxi — it’s essentially sweet fried rice paste. The locals, especially in Shanxi, love to drink it. You can find signs selling “sweet tea” everywhere — in supermarkets, small alleys, and even along ancient Ming and Qing streets.

　　  Main method for making Sweet Tea Boiled Glutinous Rice Balls:

　　  1. Glutinous rice balls can be purchased directly from supermarkets; those with black sesame or peanut fillings pair very well with sweet tea.

　　  2. I saw the chef making it in a large pot on-site, but when making sweet tea at home, it’s best not to boil it for too long, otherwise it becomes increasingly thick and the original tea aroma dissipates.

　　  3. The easiest method at home: cook the glutinous rice balls, drain them, and then pour them into hot sweet tea that has been steeped with boiling water. It’s best enjoyed while hot.