Laba Porridge

In the coldest days of winter, a bowl of hot Laba porridge is the warmest ritual of the festival.

Laba porridge (Labazhou) usually includes four kinds of ingredients. The first is grains, such as rice, millet, oats, or glutinous rice. The second is beans, like red beans, soybeans, and mung beans. The third is nuts, such as hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds. The last group is for flavor, including tasty raisins, dried longan, red dates, and more.

In Fujian, every family has its own recipe for Laba porridge. It depends on what ingredients they have at home and what flavors the family likes. Eating Laba porridge is not just about food, it carries people’s hopes and good wishes for a better life.