The 24 solar terms · no. 17 of 24 · Autumn
Cold Dew
Falls on8–9 October The Gregorian date shifts by about a day each year; check the current almanac before citing.
Seasonal signsThe dew turns cold. Days shorten, nights lengthen, and the northern harvest draws to a close. The three signs of Cold Dew: first the wild geese arrive as guests; second the sparrows enter the great water and turn into clams; third the chrysanthemums show their yellow bloom.
In season
sesamepersimmonchestnutlotus root
On the official list
The old custom
Popular custom holds that sesame is eaten at Cold Dew.
《二十四节气之寒露 霜降》· 北京市园林绿化局（首都绿化委员会办公室）· 2023-11-20（“The 24 solar terms: Cold Dew and Frost’s Descent”, Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau, 20 Nov 2023）
How it is cooked
Black sesame paste
Toast the sesame, grind it to a powder and mix with hot water; or simmer it with glutinous rice into a paste. Little or no sugar.
This term's topic
Sesame at Cold Dew
Review status
Draft · unchecked Seasonal signs and customs are compiled from published sources listed on the Data sources page; classical passages have not been collated against facsimiles.
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