SYNEAR Glutinous Rice Balls are small, round balls made from glutinous rice flour — a classic Chinese treat known as Tangyuan (汤圆). They are plain with no filling, and are prized for their soft, springy, chewy texture. The flavour itself is mild and lightly sweet, and the characteristic chewiness really shines when paired with sweet syrups or shaved ice desserts. For a familiar European comparison, the texture is similar to Italian gnocchi or Japanese mochi.

Do not eat directly from frozen — cooking is required. The simplest method is boiling: add the frozen rice balls directly into boiling water and cook for 3–4 minutes. Once they float to the surface, they are fully cooked. Rinse briefly in cold water after draining to enhance the chewy texture. Do not refreeze after thawing.

The main ingredients are glutinous rice flour, water, sugar, glucose, tapioca starch, and food additives (guar gum, xanthan gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose). The ingredient list itself does not include gluten-containing grains. However, there is an important note: based on other product labels from SYNEAR (思念), the same production facility handles wheat (gluten), peanuts, sesame, and tree nuts such as cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts. Cross-contamination cannot therefore be ruled out. Anyone with gluten intolerance, nut allergies, or peanut allergies should check the allergen labelling on the actual product packaging before consuming.

The vegan and vegetarian suitability of this product has not been officially confirmed. The ingredient list (glutinous rice flour, water, sugar, glucose, tapioca starch, food additives) alone does not allow us to fully determine whether animal-derived ingredients are used in the production process. Those following a strict vegan or vegetarian diet are advised to contact the manufacturer (SYNEAR) directly or check the actual product label before purchasing.

These glutinous rice balls are incredibly versatile. The most classic use is as a topping for Bingsu (Korean-style shaved ice with sweet red beans and condensed milk). Beyond that, they can be added to warm sweet red bean soup (Hong Dou Tang) as a winter dessert, served in sweet ginger broth in the style of Ginger Tangyuan, or simmered in warm coconut milk for a Southeast Asian-inspired dessert soup. Their satisfying chewiness makes them a welcome addition to virtually any sweet dessert.