Winter Solstice: Time to enjoy exotically flavored dumplings

December 22 marks the start of the Winter Solstice solar term, the shortest day of the year. Like many occasions in China, this is also a time for family get-togethers, festivities and feasts, many of which include the staple of dumplings.

A fusion dumpling scene has emerged at a local restaurant where tradition is marinated in a cornucopia of new flavors.

At Mr. Shi’s Dumplings, a dumpling restaurant hidden in the hutong area of China's capital, you can enjoy some good-old conventional dumplings with fillings of pork, shrimp and cabbage, both boiled and pan-fried.

Owner Shi Xinzhong, shared the origins of eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice: "The Winter Solstice literally means the arrival of winter, indicating the beginning of the coldest time of the year. In the past, when the weather was extremely cold and people struggled to keep warm, the eminent Chinese physician Zhang Zhongjing came up with the prototype of modern-day dumplings, according to legend. He mixed some medicinal herbs with meat fillings and wrapped them in a thin, doughy skin. Eating these ear-shaped dumplings was believed to protect people’s ears from getting frostbite."

The eatery offers fusion dishes, mixing western cuisine with this signature Chinese dish.

Ingredients like asparagus, curry and basil, which are often found in western kitchens, have also made their way into these fusion dumplings.

For certain foreign gourmets, it offers a fresh new take on Chinese cuisine.

One customer said he knows different cultures have their own versions of dumplings, such as Italian ravioli, but he believes that these are uniquely special. 

"Dumplings have a history of over 1,500 years in China, with various cooking methods used such as boiling, frying, and steaming," said Mr Shi.

He added that he's been experimenting with new flavors: "I believe Chinese and Western cuisines can be mixed together. Dumplings are more than just a staple dish of Chinese cuisine. They also represent the rich nature of Chinese culture."

So amid this snowy season, tuck into some of the creative dumplings on offer and discover the cultural blend wrapped within.