Keep the Chinese New Year Warm with Cozy, Comforting Meals

Updated Feb 3, 2025

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year in North America, has passed, but that doesn’t mean the festivities are over! While the celebrations continue until the Chinese Lantern Festival on February 12, the brisk and cold winter days persist. What better way to keep the warmth and tradition alive than by having hot, hearty Chinese food delivered fresh to your home each week?

In traditional Chinese culture, food plays a vital role in maintaining one’s balance and well-being. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, many foods are believed to have cooling or warming properties. Understanding warming foods can help keep one energized, improve blood circulation, and protect against winter chills. 

As we move past the festive Chinese New Year feasts, let’s explore how warm and hot foods can continue the tradition of prosperity and health, and how Mi BOWL makes it easy to enjoy authentic, comforting Chinese meals at home.

 

In this article:

• The Role of Warm Food in Chinese Culture: Balancing Health and Tradition
• The Best Hot Chinese Meals for Winter Comfort
• Order Hot Chinese Food for Cozy Nights

 

The Role of Warm Food in Chinese Culture: Balancing Health and Tradition

Food plays a fundamental role in Chinese culture, not just as a source of nourishment but also as a way to maintain balance and well-being. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, food is categorized based on its energetic properties, which refer to how it interacts with the body’s internal temperature rather than the food’s actual temperature.

During winter, our bodies need warmth to stay energized, support digestion, and improve circulation. That’s why traditional Chinese diets emphasize warming foods when temperatures drop, ensuring that the body remains balanced and strong.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, all foods fall into five categories based on how they affect the body’s internal temperature:

🥒 Cold – Cooling foods like watermelon, crab, cucumber

Cold foods reduce internal heat and are often consumed in hot weather to cool the body and remove toxins. Foods like watermelon, crab, and cucumber help cool excess heat but can slow digestion if eaten excessively in winter. To balance their cooling effects, they should be paired with warming ingredients like ginger or garlic during colder months.

🥬 Cool – Light foods like lettuce, mushrooms, tofu

Cool foods have a mild cooling effect, helping the body stay hydrated and reduce internal inflammation. Ingredients such as lettuce, mushrooms, and tofu are great for detoxification but can weaken digestion in cold weather. During winter, they should be paired with warm foods like chicken or rice to maintain internal balance.

🍚 Neutral – Everyday foods like rice, corn, carrots

Neutral foods are balanced and suitable for all seasons, neither generating heat nor cooling the body too much. Common ingredients like rice, corn, and carrots provide stable nourishment and can be paired with any category depending on the season. These are staple ingredients in daily Chinese meals due to their grounding nature.

🌶 Warm – Nourishing foods like ginger, chicken, walnuts

Warm foods boost circulation, aid digestion, and strengthen the immune system, making them ideal for winter and post-Chinese New Year meals. Ingredients such as ginger, chicken, and walnuts help restore warmth and energy. Many classic Chinese New Year dishes use warm foods to maintain harmony in the body and bring good fortune.

🔥 Hot – Stimulating foods like chilli peppers, garlic, lamb

Hot foods generate strong internal heat, which helps improve circulation and metabolism—perfect for cold winter nights. Ingredients like chilli peppers, garlic, and lamb bring an invigorating warmth but should be eaten in moderation to avoid excessive internal heat. Many spicy Sichuan dishes incorporate hot foods to balance the body in winter.

In winter, cold and cool foods should be less prioritized in meals, as they can weaken digestion and slow metabolism. Instead, focus more on eating warm and hot meals that help the body generate heat, improve circulation, and restore energy. This is why so many Chinese New Year dishes are rich in warming spices and hearty broths.

Want to experience the balance of hot & warm Chinese foods this winter? Order from Mi BOWL today!

 

The Best Hot Chinese Meals for Winter Comfort

As we settle into mid-winter, hot and hearty meals remain the perfect comfort food for the coldest of winter nights. Here are some of the best Chinese food options that bring warmth and tradition to your home.

 

Spicy Mapo Tofu: Mapo tofu is a classic Sichuan dish that packs a fiery punch, making it an excellent choice for keeping warm during winter. It consists of soft tofu cubes simmered in a rich, spicy sauce made out of fermented black beans, peppercorns, and chilli paste. Each bite delivers the signature numbing heat and warming effect of the Sichuan cuisine, making it a perfect dish to combat the winter chill. Additionally known for its bold and fiery essence, Mapo Tofu is also considered a dish of strength and energy, setting the tone for a powerful year ahead.

Braised Beef Noodle Soup: Braised beef noodle soup is a hearty and warming dish that provides both nourishment and comfort during the cold winter months. This dish features tender chunks of beef, slow-cooked in a savoury broth infused with star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. These aromatic spices play a significant role in the warmness of the dish, improving circulation and dissipating the cold. Served with thick wheat noodles and bok choy, this dish not only provides lasting warmth but also represents longevity and good fortune with the long noodles symbolizing a long and prosperous life.                   

You can order this braised beef noodle soup here at Mi BOWL!

 

Steamed Dumplings: A staple in Chinese cuisine, dumplings come in many forms and are known by different names across various cultures. Made with delicate dough wrappers encasing a savoury filling, often made out of minced pork combined with ginger, garlic, and leeks. The dough wrapper insulates the steaming hot meat filling, preserving its juiciness and tenderness, making it an ideal dish to enjoy amid winter. Beyond their delicious taste, dumplings carry a strong cultural significance, as they are a symbol of prosperity and wealth. 

 

Clay Pot Rice: Clay pot rice is a deeply satisfying dish for bringing in savoury flavours to chilly evenings. Cooked in a traditional clay pot, the rice forms a crispy, golden crust at the bottom and sides, adding texture and variety to the meal. It is topped with savoury meats such as Chinese sausage or marinated chicken, both having warming properties to help generate heat within the body. Additionally, the dish is seasoned with soy sauce and aromatic spices, enhancing the flavour and promoting digestion. In Chinese culture, clay pot rice represents stability and nourishment, making it a staple dish during the Chinese New Year and beyond.

 

Craving these warm Asian meals and more? Get 10% OFF your first meal plan or bundle with code 'WARM10' at checkout! Order hot Chinese food delivery from Mi BOWL and enjoy fresh, comforting meals without leaving home. Check out Mi BOWL’s handcrafted meal options here!

 

Order Hot Chinese Food for Cozy Nights - Keep the Warmth Going!

The Chinese New Year may be over, but winter has yet to reach its midpoint! As we settle back into our daily routines, there is no need to forget about enjoying classic, authentic Chinese dishes in the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re juggling a busy schedule or simply craving a cozy meal, Mi BOWL delivers a large variety of hearty Asian cuisines to ensure that you continue to savour the warmth of tradition without the hassle of cooking.

🔥 Special Offer: Hot Chinese Food Delivered to Your Door!🔥

🛒 Get 10% OFF your first meal plan or bundle with code 'WARM10' at checkout! 

👉 Order Now and enjoy authentic, hot Chinese meal plans delivered fresh to your door.

Plus, for those seeking maximum convenience, our Frozen Combo Meals are now on sale! Perfect for stocking your freezer with warming, hearty meals that can be ready in minutes. We provide 6 meals selected from our frozen collection: 

• Frozen Sichuan Mapo Tofu With Rice 川味麻婆豆腐饭
• Frozen Japanese Curry Chicken With Rice 日式咖喱鸡肉饭
• Frozen Taiwanese Braised Minced Pork With Rice 台式卤肉饭
• Frozen Cantonese Braised Beef Brisket with Radish and Rice柱侯萝卜牛腩饭
• Frozen Black Bean Ribs with Rice 豉汁排骨饭
• Frozen Tender Chicken and Shiitake Mushrooms with Rice 香菇滑鸡饭
• Frozen Korean Pork Bone Soup (Gamjatang) 韩式猪骨汤

By building your own meal bundle or selecting from our handcrafted menu, you’re not just enjoying hot, comforting meals from the comfort of home, you’re also maintaining your energy balance during these cold months. At Mi BOWL, every dish is thoughtfully prepared with these warming ingredients to help you stay energized and cozy all season long. 

As we welcome the new year and the latter half of winter, we wish you a happy Chinese New Year and a warm, cozy winter season!

References:

Ping Ming Health. Warming and Cooling Characteristics of Common Foods. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.pingminghealth.com/article/581/warming-and-cooling-characteristics-of-common-foods/.

CNM. The Energy of Foods in Chinese Medicine. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.naturopathy-uk.com/news/news-cnm-blog/blog/2020/07/16/the-energy-of-foods-in-chinese-medicine/.