Shanghai Lasha Glutinous Rice Balls

Shanghai Lasha Glutinous Rice Balls

　　Shanghai Lasha Glutinous Rice Balls

　　 The Shanghai Lasha glutinous rice balls have a history of over 70 years. In the past, a clay sand basin with grooved inner walls was used, along with a hard pomegranate wood stick as the "grinding pestle" to mash the batter in the basin. Roasted dried beans such as peanuts, sesame seeds, or soybeans were added to the basin and dry-ground into a powdery "fragrant sand." Finally, the cooked glutinous rice balls were rolled in the "fragrant sand," so that the sticky rice balls became coated with the richly aromatic "fragrant sand," hence the name "Lasha" glutinous rice balls. Some eateries serve them as freshly made-to-order dim sum, offering the fresh sensation of the filling gushing out like flowing sand with every bite.