Dongzhi, the winter solstice

Spices for Dongzhi, the winter solstice

At the winter solstice northern Chinese families eat dumplings and southern families eat tangyuan or mutton soup, with ginger, white pepper and a little Sichuan pepper and cinnamon, for warmth. In Korea, dongji patjuk, red bean porridge, with rice balls is eaten, as the red colour is believed to drive off bad luck. In Japan, yuzu baths and kabocha pumpkin are the customs. The thread joining these is the use of warm, aromatic things in the longest night of the year.

The spices

GingerWarming mutton and ginger soups.Sichuan pepperA pinch in northern stews.