On March 26th 2024, at the cooking experience zone on the second floor of the North Canteen, the International Student Office organised an event for international students to learn how to make qingtuan, the traditional food that is usually eaten during the Qingming holiday. Nearly 30 international students from countries including Russia, Turkey, Germany, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Algeria, Morocco, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea participated in the event.
清明 (Qīngmíng) is a Chinese festival for honoring ancestors. People visit graves to pay respects and clean the tombstones. It's a time for family remembrance and reverence. Eating 青团 (qīngtuán) during Qingming honors ancestors with its typical green color symbolizing spring and renewal, while its glutinous rice composition signifies family unity.
During the event there were three types of dough, made of glutinous rice flour and vegetable juice, which colours reminded of spring: violet, green, and yellow. Students could choose between three fillings: one with shredded dried pork, yam paste, and red bean paste.
After the master explained the students how to put the filling inside the dough and round it through the palms, students were free to show their creativity and make different shapes of qingtuan: hearts, animals…
After waiting 20 minutes for the qingtuan to be steamed, students were also able to taste their handmade qingtuan, for some it was their first time tasting it! Students said the qingtuan were delicious and the soft and chewy texture was very pleasant.
Thank you all for your participation and
looking forward to seeing you all in future events!