Today is the traditional Chinese festival of Laba (腊八节), a time when people celebrate the 8th day of the last month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar by drinking Laba congee (腊八粥 labazhou, also known as 八宝粥 babaozhou), an invigorating, uber healthy rice porridge made with a base of red kidney beans, lotus seeds, green beans, red date, dried nuts, glutinous rice, oats and corn.
When it was first observed over 2,000 years ago, this was a day to make sacrificial ceremonies to the Lunar gods or to wish for a good harvest in the coming year. The porridge, made in a cauldron, was first offered to the gods, and then shared around the family. With Buddhism mixing into Chinese culture, however, the day also became doubly known as the Day of Enlightenment, when Sakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment.
Exactly what goes into a labazhou depends on local and family tradition, as well as personal preference, and can vary hugely. Poets, playwrights, and novelists throughout history have written about the festival, detailing what's put into the mix. Whatever the concoction, it's full of healthy wholefood goodness (that's kind of the point – it's winter and a time for restoring our bodies according to traditional Chinese medicine), and is traditionally made with no added sugar.
Restaurants, coffee houses, and even posh hotels across Shanghai are bubbling up their pots with this invigorating congee today. We like...
San Bao Congee (三宝粥铺)
Eighth floor, Shanghai No 1 Department Store, 500 Xizang Zhong Lu, near Fengyang Lu, Huangpu district. 10am-10.30pm.