Newly-made Zongzi (Glutinous Rice Dumplings)

Newly-made Zongzi from Xinxing

　　Newly-made Zongzi from Xinxing

　　Newly-made Zongzi from Xinxing are renowned for their softness, fragrance, and smooth texture—especially their flavor, which is unmatched among all zongzi varieties in Guangdong. There are various flexible ways to prepare them, though the mainstream methods share many similarities. These zongzi are made by wrapping glutinous rice, mung beans, pork, cured meats, and other ingredients in local winter leaves. After being meticulously wrapped, they are placed in large pots and boiled over high heat for about eight hours.

　　Xinxing zongzi come in three types: glutinous rice zongzi, sticky rice zongzi, and lye water zongzi. The most common variety is wrapped in winter leaves, while those wrapped in banana leaves have an especially refreshing aroma.

　　Lye water zongzi are especially popular during the annual Dragon Boat Festival because of their golden color and crystal-clear appearance. They are suitable for eating cold and make a refreshing, thirst-quenching treat in summer.

　　Xinxing zongzi come in various forms, including glutinous rice zongzi, sticky rice zongzi, and lye water (alkaline water) zongzi. During the New Year, those wrapped in winter leaves are common, while banana leaf-wrapped ones offer an especially fragrant taste. Salty-flavor zongzi are delicate and sweet in taste. Made from glutinous rice and mung beans wrapped in winter leaves, they also help clear heat and detoxify. With an overflowing fragrance that melts in your mouth, they are both sweet and aromatic, making them a traditional festive food enjoyed by Xinxing locals during Chinese New Year. Lye water zongzi are especially popular during the annual Dragon Boat Festival because of their golden color and crystal-clear appearance. They are suitable for eating cold and make a refreshing, thirst-quenching treat in summer. Sticky rice zongzi, wrapped in sticky rice, offer a different feel compared to the “heavier” texture of glutinous rice.

　　During every Spring Festival, families prepare these zongzi as gifts for relatives and friends. Those who come from afar to Xinxing never miss the chance to collect some of these zongzi, bringing home a rich taste of home with full satisfaction.

　　There are many shops in Xinxing that sell zongzi, but among them, “Zhongyi Food Shop” run by Auntie Fei is considered the best.