What is it
Leishayuan
Soft filled rice balls rolled in a dry red bean powder instead of served in soup.
At the table
How to eat it
NONE
Culture
The story behind the dish
Cooked rice balls are drained and rolled in finely ground red bean powder, allowing them to be carried without a bowl of syrup. “Leisha” refers to coating the round balls in this sandy-looking powder, not to actual sand. Shanghai sweet shops such as Qiaojiashan developed it as a dry-coated alternative to rice balls served in liquid.
Reference
For reference
Every kitchen does it its own way. What follows is the typical version — ingredients, heat and price shift from city to city and from one restaurant to the next, so take it as a guide rather than a fixed recipe.
SpicinessNot spicy
Main ingredientGlutinous rice / Red bean powder / Sweet filling
FlavourSweet, nutty, chewy
Suitable forVegetarian
Usually servedHot
Good forSnack / Dessert
Where it is fromShanghai
Ordering tipAsk which filling is inside, since red bean, sesame and other versions can look identical beneath the powder. Order by the piece or portion according to the shop’s menu.
Last updated 2026-09-05
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