Longzhou Five-Colored Glutinous Rice

Longzhou Five-Colored Glutinous Rice

　　Every year around the third day of the third lunar month, or during the Qingming and Dragon Boat Festival seasons, the Zhuang people in Longzhou commonly make five-colored glutinous rice. This dish is a traditional snack from the Zhuang ethnic areas of Guangxi. Named for its five colors—black, red, yellow, white, and purple—it is visually appealing, aromatic, and delicious. The Zhuang people love it and regard it as a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and a bountiful harvest.

　　Those who have never seen five-colored glutinous rice might wonder: how do these vibrant colors get there? Are artificial colorings used? Is it harmful to eat? ... Wrong！The colors come from natural plant dyes. Not only are they beautiful, but they also have medicinal properties. Red-blue grass helps promote blood circulation, while yellow flower has cooling and blood-purifying effects. Maple leaves can strengthen muscles and bones, benefit the stomach and intestines, improve vitality, and nourish the marrow. Regular consumption is believed to lead to a light body and long life.

　　Next, let me take you behind the scenes to uncover the secrets of natural five-colored glutinous rice~ The process is actually quite simple—dye the glutinous rice with plant-based dyes, then steam it after coloring. Once you learn how, you can also make fragrant five-colored glutinous rice at home yourself！

　　First, let’s get to know what these “dyes” really are！

　　Next, choose high-quality glutinous rice. Longzhou’s Xiadong Town is known for producing excellent rice, thanks to its location backed by the Daqing Mountain. The lush forests on the rolling mountains help maintain ample water levels and provide rich nutrients for the village’s paddy fields. With a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and plenty of sunshine, the unique subtropical monsoon climate makes Xiadong a land of fine rice. Xiadong fragrant glutinous rice features large grains, snow-white texture, and a rich fragrance. When cooked, the aroma wafts through the air—"one family cooking rice fills ten homes with scent, and when cooking at the right time, the fragrance spreads across the whole village." Once cooked, the glutinous rice becomes soft and glossy. Even after two days, the surface remains soft without hardening. It naturally becomes the top choice for making five-colored glutinous rice among locals in Longzhou.

　　Now that the ingredients and glutinous rice are all ready, we’re just “one step away from success”!

　　In the rice-dyeing process, the black color derived from maple leaves is relatively complex and the most challenging to prepare. First, gather the maple leaves, then pound them. After pounding, place them in a basin and soak them in water. Note: don’t use too much water, or the color may become too light and not dark enough. Soak them for about six to seven hours, then remove the leaf residue. Filter the remaining liquid using clean gauze, then pour the filtered water into a pot and boil it until it’s very hot—you shouldn’t be able to put your hand in. At this point, pour the maple leaf water into a basin, add the glutinous rice (note: do not rinse the rice or it won’t absorb the color), stir well to ensure even dyeing, and let it soak overnight for steaming the next morning.

　　Similarly, yellow mother flower, red-blue leaf, and purple vine are the easiest to handle. Simply wash them, place them separately in a pot, and boil until piping hot. Once the colors emerge, remove the roots and leaves, then pour the remaining colored water into a bowl or basin, add the glutinous rice, and let it soak to absorb the color. Let it sit and soak overnight for steaming the next morning. For the plain (white) glutinous rice, soak it the night before and steam it the next day as well.

　　Once the dyed glutinous rice is ready, steam each color separately. Soon, your fragrant five-colored glutinous rice is ready to serve～Not only does it feast the eyes, but also the taste buds！Colorful and vividly enticing, the natural pigments are beneficial and harmless to the body. Each color offers its own delicate fragrance and unique flavor～