🍽️ Ningbo Tangyuan

Black sesame and lard filling, soft and sweet.

Ningbo tangyuan are Zhejiang's most famous traditional sweet dumplings. Glutinous rice dough milled to a fine texture wraps a filling of ground black sesame mixed with lard and sugar, rolled into balls and boiled until they float in clear sweet soup. A bite through the soft skin releases a flowing sesame center, rich, fragrant, sweet without greasiness and never gummy. Ningbo families eat them on Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival for reunion. Frozen versions now sell nationwide, but freshly wrapped bowls at old Ningbo shops remain best. A classic Jiangnan festive sweet, they are a signature treat around Ningbo's old city temple markets.