Today is Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice. Dongzhi, the 22nd solar term of the year, is also an important festival in Chinese culture. It marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Here are some of the main dishes consumed during this time and in winter in general: No matter where you are, remember to eat Tangyuan or Jiaozi today.

Jiaozi (Chinese dumplings)

Eating Jiaozi during the Dongzhi Festival is especially popular in China's northern regions. A warm bowl of soft Jiaozi can help you get rid of the cold and is a great comfort food.

Tangyuan

In southern China, we traditionally eat Tangyuan, small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with sesame seeds, walnuts, dried fruit, sugar or edible oil as fillings.

Nuts

According to TCM, nuts have the function of nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the brain and heart, so they are highly encouraged to be consumed during the Dongzhi Festival.

Other common foods for this festival include Babao porridge (eight-treasure porridge), Chinese radishes and mutton.

Here is one TCM suggestion for maintaining optimal health during the winter solstice and the colder months in general.

The most important health preservation technique during the winter solstice and the following weeks is to keep warm. According to TCM, only when the body is warm can the blood flow smoothly throughout the body. A healthy blood flow helps maintain optimal health and prevent all kinds of diseases.

Wishing you a happy Dongzhi Festival!