對冬至最早的印象是外婆帶著大家搓湯圓，做鹹甜菜包。小時候最期待外婆帶回來一大包白色的粉，還有一小包粉紅色紙袋的神秘原料。外婆會先把一小部分的粉加水混成團，丟到滾水裡煮熟，再跟其他粉混合，慢慢加水做成麵團讓我們一群小屁孩幫忙搓湯圓。小屁孩們搓得大大小小、歪七扭八，外婆會用竹篩盤一次シヤゲ全部滾圓，現在想起來還是好帥氣呀！長大才知道是材料是糯米粉跟食用色素，但自己做好像跟印象中的又不一樣了。
最近看到一種有趣的湯圓新吃法，用紅茶煮湯圓，今年試做了一下還滿喜歡的，紅茶降低了甜度，搭配包內餡的芝麻湯圓很好吃😋紅茶的味道會滲入湯圓的外層，加小湯圓吃也不錯。
因為是晚上吃，紅茶泡得淡一點，一大湯匙茶葉+600ml滾水，泡5分鐘。煮滾加湯圓煮到浮起來即可，紅茶加了一大湯匙的糖，不會太甜。去手搖飲料店買一杯微糖去冰的茶好像也可以，下次試試看綠茶～
湯圓材料：
50g 糯米粉
適量 過濾水 (水一點一點加，成團就好，如果麵團太溼就加粉補救）
* 如果想做粉紅色湯圓，可以用甜菜根粉加入成團的麵團，或是直接用過濾過的火龍果汁和麵，取代人工色素。
紅茶湯材料：
1大匙 紅茶葉
600ml 開水 (這次泡5分鐘)
3大匙 砂糖 (隨喜調整)
Tangyuan (湯圓) is the most iconic traditional food in Taiwan during winter solstice. Its round shape symbolizes family reunion and wholesome living.
When I was little, my granny would prepare the dough and all we grandchildren took part in the making of each little Tangyuan. Traditionally, Tangyuan was made with glutinous rice flour and water, typically with half of the dough in regular and the other half colored pink or red to symbolize “gold” and “silver” to wish for good luck. The atmosphere was festive and cheering like Lunar New Year, and we kids were told that we would be one year older after eating Tangyuan soup.
In different areas of Taiwan, the shape and flavor of Tangyuan varies. While we cook Tangyuan in sugar water, the Hakka people prepare it with savory soup and vegetable, some even with meat fillings. Now you can find more different flavors in supermarket during this season.
This year I tried cooking Tangyuan in black tea, and it turned out satisfying. Sometimes the sweet filling is too sweet for me, but black tea made the sweetness subtle and balanced.
Ingredient for Tangyuan:
approx. 50g glutinous rice flour
approx 20~25g water (add gradually until it forms a slightly stiff dough)
*For pink Tangyuan, add beetroot powder to the dough or substitute water with beetroot juice to replace artificial food coloring.
Ingredient for Black Tea:
1tbsp black tea
600ml boiling water (let sit for 5 minutes, the tea will reduce when you cook Tangyuan)
3tbsp sugar (to taste)
Cook Tangyuan until floating on the tea.
