What is Dragon Boat Festival dumplings

The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is the Dragon Boat Festival. In this day of fragrant rice dumplings, taste the soft and sticky, mellow flavor of the Dragon Boat Festival dumplings, as if the warmth and joy of a whole summer are wrapped into the stomach. Today, we will explore the past life and unique charm of the Dragon Boat Festival dumplings.

The dumplings, also known as zongzi, is a traditional Chinese festival food, the earliest can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period. According to legend, after the patriotic poet Qu Yuan was martyred in Miluo River, the local people cast rice balls in order to prevent fish and shrimp from harming his remains. Over time, this activity evolved into a traditional custom of the Dragon Boat Festival, and the rice balls gradually evolved into zongzi.

The shape of the zongzi is varied, triangular, quadrangular, round and so on, different regions have different packages and flavors. Common zongzi fillings are sweet and salty, sweet zongzi more red bean paste, bean paste, date paste, osmanthus sugar, etc. for filling, salty zongzi to meat, egg yolk, seafood, mushrooms, etc. for filling. Dumpling leaves also have to pay attention to, generally choose fresh reed leaves, Ruo leaves or Shuusei leaves, its fragrance can be perfectly integrated with the dumpling filling.

The Dragon Boat Festival dumplings have a delicate wrapping method and complicated craftsmanship, condensing the wisdom and ingenuity of the ancients. The selection and handling of the leaves, the preparation of the filling, and the wrapping technique of the zongzi all require a certain degree of skill and experience. After being steamed, the packaged dumplings are fragrant, soft and delicious, and become an indispensable delicacy for the Dragon Boat Festival.

In addition to its culinary value, the Dragon Boat Festival zongzi also carries a rich cultural connotation. It is a symbol of people's remembrance of Qu Yuan's loyalty and patriotism, and symbolizes the desire to drive away evil spirits, avoid disasters, and pray for good fortune. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people give zongzi, hanging zongzi, dragon boat racing and other customs, all reflecting the Dragon Boat Festival zongzi in the Chinese traditional culture in the important position.

Today, the Dragon Boat Festival dumplings have become a bright pearl in Chinese food culture. It is not only the enjoyment of taste buds, but also the carrier of traditional culture and nostalgia. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, no matter where you are, wouldn't it be great to savor a zongzi and feel the cultural heritage that stretches for thousands of years?