TSING RICE CAKE or 青(Tsīng)团(Tuán) (GF)
CHEF JING LIU, a member of the Chinese Street Market DC talent pool, was born and raised in Guangdong province, China (where dim sum is daily dining), and a graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Paris.
MAIN INGREDIENTS: glutinous rice flour; green grass juice (usually a combination of wheatgrass, or Asian artemisia mugwort juice); sweet or savory filling.
HISTORY: The ancient Tsing Ming—or 清明 (Qīngmíng)—Festival takes place every year on April 4th and is a time for honoring one’s ancestors. The Festival’s origins can be traced back more than 2,000 years during the Zhou dynasty. In the present day, it is also known as the Cold Food—or 寒食 (Hánshí)—Festival, where friends and family gather to host springtime banquets, enjoy seasonal cold food dishes, and pay respects at familial burial plots, as they celebrate and memorialize their family histories.
The Tsing Rice Cake or 青团 (Qīngtuán) was originally a dish served during festival banquets, and eventually became so popular that it became a pastry shop staple year-round!
This delicacy is named for its color tsing or 青 (qīng), a yellowish green hue to the natural dye that is made from an artemisia plant commonly known as Chinese mugwort or 艾草( Ài Cǎo). It has a slightly bitter taste and gives off a unique aroma. This plant is generally considered a component of Chinese medicine remedies to treat a variety of symptoms and maladies.
USE ARTEMISIA IN CHINESE MEDICINE:
Below are some of the holistic uses of artemisia in Chinese medicine. This is purely informational in the context of food products and is not intended to be construed as medical information.
Chinese Mugwort Acupuncture (or Moxibustion)– A therapy for regulation of qi and blood flow; used to reduce sweats and chills and improve blood circulation during menstruation.
Chinese Mugwort Tea – A medicinal drink or therapeutic foot bath; commonly recommended to individuals suffering from chronic bronchitis or excessive mucus and phlegm.
Chinese Mugwort Extract – Believed to help with for cell inflammation and apoptosis as well as blood clotting; also believed to improve vasodilation.