Today, we welcome Minor Heat (Xiǎoshǔ), the 11th solar term in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which falls around July 6-8 every year when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 105°. As a leading food raw material supplier rooted in North China, Hebei Abiding Co., Ltd. would like to take this opportunity to introduce this unique Chinese seasonal tradition to all our new and long-term global partners, so that you can get a deeper insight into the time-honored farming wisdom and folk customs behind our high-quality agricultural products.
The Origin of Minor Heat
The name “Minor Heat” can be traced back over 700 years to The Collection of Seventy-two Descriptions of Solar Terms, a classic work by ancient Chinese scholar Wu Cheng in the Yuan Dynasty. The book states: “Heat means warmth. Among different levels of heat, the early summer month brings minor warmth, while the mid-summer month brings major warmth — at this moment, the summer heat is still mild and has not reached its peak.”
This is exactly where the popular Chinese saying comes from: “Minor Heat is not scorching hot, while Major Heat marks the dog days”. Minor Heat signals that the hottest period of the year is approaching, but the extreme peak of summer is yet to come. For thousands of years, this solar term has acted as a critical farming guide for Chinese farmers, helping them arrange planting, harvesting and storage work in accordance with natural rhythms.
Traditional Customs You May Not Know
For Chinese people, Minor Heat is far more than a seasonal marker — it is filled with warm, life-centered traditions that have been passed down for generations:
- “Shi Xin” — Tasting the New HarvestAs early rice in most parts of China enters the ripening stage around Minor Heat, local families will cook the first batch of newly harvested rice, offer it to ancestors and local deities as a tribute, then share the fresh grain with neighbors and relatives. This custom expresses people’s gratitude to nature and their best wishes for a smooth, abundant whole year.
- Sunning Clothes and BooksThere is an old folk proverb that says: “On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, every household dries out their colorful fabrics”. During Minor Heat, the bright, strong sunlight is perfect for driving away moisture, preventing mildew and keeping moths away from clothes, calligraphy works, paintings and books. Even today, many families will take out their wool textiles, leather goods and precious collections to enjoy a full day of sunbath.
- Enjoying Special Seasonal Food
- In northern China, people have the tradition of eating dumplings on the first day of the dog days, as the fresh, juicy dumplings help boost appetite when the summer heat makes people feel sluggish.
- In Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, local residents hold the “Fu Yang” (Summer Lamb Soup) festival. A local saying goes: “A bowl of lamb soup in the dog days means no need to visit the doctor for the whole season”. Warm lamb soup helps balance the coldness that builds up in human bodies from long hours of air conditioning and cold drinks.
- Across the country, tender lotus root becomes a must-have seasonal ingredient. Sliced fresh raw lotus root tastes crisp, sweet and refreshing, while slow-cooked glutinous rice stuffed lotus root with osmanthus honey is a beloved traditional summer dessert.
Minor Heat and Our Food Raw Materials
As a food raw material enterprise based in Hebei, we are deeply connected to the natural rhythm of Minor Heat. Right now in our surrounding farmlands, newly harvested wheat has just been processed into high-quality flour, soybeans are growing strong under the summer sun, and a wide range of seasonal grains, beans and edible agricultural products are entering their best harvest and storage period.
The 24 Solar Terms, which was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, is not only an ancient Chinese farming calendar, but also a philosophy of “harmony between human and nature” that we always stick to at Hebei Abiding Co., Ltd. We strictly follow the natural growing cycle of crops, select raw materials at their best harvest window, and deliver fresh, safe and authentic Chinese food ingredients to every customer across the world.
We hope this small introduction to Minor Heat can bring you a little cool summer joy, and help you better understand the traditional culture behind the Chinese food products you trust. If you have any inquiries about our seasonal fresh food raw materials, our team is always ready to provide you with professional services.
Hebei Abiding Co., Ltd. July 7, 2026
This article integrates the company’s business attributes, traditional cultural details and customer care logic, and can be directly published on your official website. If you need to adjust the product-related proportion, add more local Hebei folk customs, or expand the content of specific food raw materials, you can tell me for further revision.
Post time: Jul-07-2026
