Most of the Chinese followed the tradition of eating Laba porridge on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. The date usually falls in mid-January and is a traditional Chinese festival, called Laba Festival (chin.: làbāzhōu 腊八粥).
Laba porridge contains glutinous rice (chin.: nuòmǐ 糯米), red beans (chin.: hóngdòu 红豆), soya beans (chin.: huángdòu 黄豆), dried lotus seeds (chin.: liánzǐ 莲子), barley (chin.: yìmǐ 薏米), black beans (chin.: hēidòu 黑豆), mung beans (chin.: lǜdòu 绿豆) black rice (chin.: hēimǐ 黑米) and some other ingredients, based on topical habits.
Laba porridge is not only easy to prepare, but also a nutritious winter food because it contains amino acids, protein, vitamins and other nutrition people need. Cooked nuts and dried fruit are good for soothing nerves, nourishing one’s heart and vitality, and strengthening the spleen. Perhaps that is why it is also called Eight Treasures food (chin.: bābǎozhōu 八宝粥).…
