Pyramid shaped Glutinous Rice Dumplings

Feb 15th, 2007
Posted by handicraft

Pyramid-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves are a traditional Chinese food for the Dragon Boat Festival which falls on the 5th of the 5th lunar month.The festival,popular among the Han people by tradition,was first established during the Warring States Period(475-221 B.C.)in memory of Qu Yuan,a celebrated poet who was a high official of the state of Chu.Apassionate reformist,he courted the wrath of conservatives,who talked the King of Chu into sending him into exile.Dismayed by his failure to salvage his country,Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Guluo River on the 5th of the 5th lunar month in 278 B.C..His fellow countrymen made it a point to honour the memory of this great patriotic poet by sailing dragon boats down the Guluo River and throwing pyramid-shaped rice dumplings into the water to feed his soul.

 
Such is the origin of the Chinese tradition of holding dragon boat races and eating pyramid-shaped rice dumplings on the 5th of the 5th lunar month.

Steamed Corn Bread

Wotou is a form of staple food in many northern regions of China.Made of corn flour,it is in the shape of a cone hollow from the base,rather like an inverted wo(bird's nest),hence its name. It used to...

more...

Dough Flowers

Dough flowers are not only a food but a work of art nice to look at.As the name implies,they are made of wheat flour,though sometimes mixed with glutinous rice flour for greater stickiness. They are v...

more...