Yuanxiao Yuanxiao always thought it was jiaozi wrapped in stuffing. Does this peach-red olive-shaped jiaozi count as Yuanxiao? The author has questions. Facing the author's curiosity, the old man told me that this is a unique custom in Boluo: Sumu Tangyuan celebrates Yuanxiao. It is reported that hematoxylin is a dicotyledonous plant, which is a Chinese herbal medicine with the functions of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain. Because the soup in the stem core of hematoxylin is bright pink, Boluo ancestors used this feature to make peach-red festive dumplings with glutinous rice flour. Compared with the dumplings made of chemical colorant "safflower powder" in some places, Sumu dumplings are made of natural plant pigments, which can be regarded as a genuine "green food".
The old man also said that when frying juice with sappan stem, attention should be paid not to use iron, otherwise the color of the juice will be dim. There is another characteristic of hematoxylin juice, which turns yellow in acidity and red in alkalinity. Therefore, when Boluo residents make sumu dumplings, they should add a little alkaline water to the juice of sumu, so as to make the dumplings bright pink. Sumu dumplings are delicious and very popular with local people. It is said that a few years ago, Wang Shutang, former deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture, visited his in-laws in Boluo at the beginning of the year. He never likes to eat dumplings. After tasting it, he was full of praise. I also specially ordered my accompanying wife to bring some home.