Qingming Festival delicacies are a taste of spring

Clear and Bright (qing ming), is the fifth of the 24 traditional solar terms and falls on Sunday this year. Marking the height of spring, it inspires seasonal foods that capture and preserve the fleeting beauty of the season.

Both qingming cakes and their rounder cousins, qingtuan, are quintessential delicacies of the Qingming Festival, which is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day. Tinted with the natural green of fresh spring herbs, they are more than just food — they are symbols of renewal. Dating back to ancient times when they were used as ceremonial offerings, the cakes remain an essential part of regional food culture.