After a gentle spring rain, bamboo shoots that have slumbered beneath the winter soil begin to stir. Pale, moisture-laden tips break through the earth, releasing the crisp, tender, faintly sweet scent of mountain air. For many Chinese families, this is the season's most vivid taste — yu shui (Rain Water), the second of the 24 solar terms.
After the Start of Spring, Rain Water falls on Feb 18, heralding a rise in temperatures. Ice and snow melt, moisture gathers and the land softens. The term reflects not just a change in weather, but a shift at the dining table. Damp soil and warming air coax bamboo shoots to sprout, nature's rhythm quietly spreads into the kitchen.
