A special drink is concocted for Lantern Festival in Lanzhou — a Tangyuan Americano. [Photo/Lanzhou Wanbao] 

Sweet glutinous rice balls, known as yuanxiao or tangyuan, take center stage on dining tables across China as Lantern Festival arrives today. In Lanzhou, Gansu province, creative young consumers are exploring innovative ways to enjoy this traditional treat — from tangyuan Americano to tangyuan milk tea, tangyuan bread to tangyuan cake — adding a fashionable twist to the age-old snack.

Demo Coffee, a cafe in Chengguan district, has launched its tangyuan Americano for the fourth consecutive year. Freshly cooked black sesame tangyuan are paired with espresso, then enhanced with honey and fermented glutinous rice wine, creating a unique bitter-sweet flavor.

Lanzhou Qiumai Bakery has introduced black sesame tangyuan bread. The 9.9 yuan ($1.36) limited-edition bread features soft European-style dough wrapped around molten sesame tangyuan, quickly winning customers' hearts upon its release.

Xibaotang Cake Shop offers several tangyuan cake varieties. Their soybean milk rice mochi cake combines black sesame tangyuan with osmanthus sugar and a thick layer of salted milk foam. The aroma of the beans blended with milky richness and chewy mochi creates a perfect marriage of flavor and texture, making it a new favorite among dessert enthusiasts.

Creative takes on traditional foods are bringing fresh vitality to the festival, spreading the warmth of the feeling of family reunions in delightful new ways.