Northernersprefertouseglutinousrice,redbeans,dates,lotussees,driedlonganpulp,walnuts,pinenutsandotherdriedfruitsintheirporridge;southernerslikeasaltyporridgepreparedwithrice,soybeans,peanuts,broadbeans,taro,waterchestnuts,walnuts,vegetablesanddicedmeat.Somepeopleliketoaddcinnamonandothercondimentstoinjectflavor.Controllingtheheatisofgreatimportanceintheoutcome.Atthestart,theflamemustbehigh,butthefireisthenturneddowntolettheporridgesimmeruntilitbeginstoemitaverydelicioussmell.Theprocessistime-consumingbutnotcomplicated.
Labaporridgeisnotonlyeasytoprepare,butalsoanutritiouswinterfoodbecauseitcontainsaminoacids,proteinandothervitaminspeopleneed.Cookednutsanddriedfruitaregoodforsmoothingnerves,nourishingone’sheartandvitality,andstrengtheningthespleen.Perhapsthatiswhyitisalsocalledbabao(EightTreasure)porridge.