Boba Tang Yuan - The Hip New Way to Round Out the Lunar New Year

Author Notes

The last day of the Lunar New Year is known as Yuan Xiao Jie or the Lantern Festival 元宵節. In addition to celebrating with handmade lanterns it is traditional to consume chewy rice balls called Yuan Xiao 元宵 commonly known as Tang Yuan 汤圆 (there is a difference between them!) whose spherical shape represents wholeness and brings good relationships and luck for the year to come.

Traditional custom dictates small unfilled red and white Yuan Xiao and Tang Yuan, made by rolling the dough (another reference to ‘roundness of the moon’), or large white spheres stuffed occasionally stuffed with adzuki or sesame, to be enjoyed in sweet soup as a way to ‘round out’ the last day of the Lunar New Year’s 15-day celebration. The word ‘Yuan’ means round and signifies wholeness, especially in relationships.

Tang Yuan have experienced a renaissance as the newer generation experiments with contemporary flavors - including Milk Tea! Since at least 2020 Boba Yuan Xiao have been popping up on blogs, vlogs, and in grocers throughout the motherland. In recent years, creative cooks and businesses have filled these treats with everything from gooey matcha to Skippy peanut butter.

Here’s a Twrl Milk Tea version that you can enjoy right at home! There’s two easy ways to make this - either purchase pre-made Tang Yuan and Boba (usually in the freezer section of an Asian supermarket), or if you’re a bit more ambitious make your own Milk Tea Tang Yuan, stuffed with Boba or plain, and top with piping hot Milk Tea to round out our contemporary take on the traditional Tang Yuan.

My grandmother’s secret to cooking the perfect tang yuan for the right combination of chewiness without breaking the tang yuan skin is to wait until your pot of water is boiling and then place the Tang Yuan inside. When the water re-boils, add ½ a cup of water. The magical moment when the Tang Yuan rises to the surface of the pot, that’s when you know it’s time. Pop open a can of milk tea and add some Boba and Tang Yuan. With each delicious bite, the perfect combo of Boba + Milk Tea + Tang Yuan, your New Year is looking more and more prosperous.

Happy New Year! 新年快樂 Xin Nian Kuai Le! —Olivia Chen