Chinese Jiaozi

What are Jiaozi

In China, the jiaozi is more than just a dish. It is a symbol of family, healing, and tradition. Eaten especially during the Lunar New Year, jiaozi represents prosperity, reunion, and warmth. Its crescent shape, resembling ancient Chinese currency, is believed to bring wealth and good fortune for the coming year.

The Legend of Jiaozi

The origin of jiaozi dates back over 1800 years to the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to legend, the esteemed physician Zhang Zhongjing created the first dumplings not as food, but as medicine. In the cold winter, he encountered many villagers suffering from frostbitten ears. He created a warming remedy by wrapping lamb, herbs, and chili in thin dough and shaping them like ears. These "jiao'er" were boiled and distributed to the poor, healing their frostbite and nourishing their bodies. Over time, they became a staple of northern Chinese cuisine and were renamed "jiaozi."

The Culture of Jiaozi

Making jiaozi is often a communal act. Families gather to fold dumplings together, passing down techniques and stories across generations. This shared ritual echoes a universal human tradition: preparing food together in celebration and in remembrance. In China, the jiaozi is often shaped and folded in courtyards or around kitchen tables.

The Lucky Jiaozi

In some Chinese New Year celebrations, a dime (or other small coin) is hidden inside one dumpling in the batch. The tradition says that whoever finds the coin is in for a year of good luck and prosperity.

Your challenge: Hover over the Jiaozis and see if you can spot the one with the hidden dime.