8.6.08

Zongzi 粽子


Zongzi is traditionally eaten during the Tuen Ng Festival. They are dumplings, made of glutinous rice with different fillings, wrapped in bamboo leaves. Zongzi differentiate in shape, the wrapping of the vine, and the colour/type of leaf wrapping.

The zongzi originated when an advisor of the king was forced to commit suicide, and the body was thrown in the river. It was said that the local people, who admired him, threw rice dumplings in the river to feed the fish, so that they wouldn't eat his body. They also sailed out into the river, beating drums and splashing the water with their paddles, to scare away the fish. This is said to be where dragon boat racing originated from.

One of the nice caretakers or "Big Sisters" 姐姐, as the teachers and children call them, made me a couple of zongzi, the above one pictured is a lye water zongzi 梘水粽. This one in particular can be eaten with sugar or soy sauce.

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