Chicken Dung Vine and Its Glutinous Rice Balls

Chicken Dung Vine and Its Glutinous Rice Balls

　　Chicken Dung Vine is a leafy, climbing tuber plant that grows beneath tropical, humid shrubbery. It has medicinal properties and can also be used to make flavorful dishes. Chicken Dung Vine glutinous rice balls are a distinctive local snack in the Sanya area.

　　The leaves of the Chicken Dung Vine are long and pointed, resembling those of the Andrographis paniculata herb, but are thinner than those of Andrographis. The leaves spread along the vine as it creeps along the ground, making it highly prolific. In years with favorable weather, the fragrance fills the mountains.

　　The plant is named Chicken Dung Vine because it smells similar to chicken manure. The initial whiff can be off-putting, causing one to wrinkle their nose and frown, much like the smell of chicken dung. However, the longer you smell it, the more fragrant it becomes. Its aroma penetrates the heart and lungs, refreshing the mind, clearing the spirit, and bringing a sense of well-being.

　　Chicken Dung Vine clears heat, reduces inflammation, detoxifies, moistens the lungs, and refreshes the mind. It is commonly referred to as "wild ginseng" among locals. The leaves, when pounded into powder and made into a soup, can treat coughs. Its tubers can cure blood deficiency disorders. Mountain dwellers often drink it as a tea during the summer, but people in the plains and urban areas more commonly use it to make glutinous rice balls.

　　The method for making Chicken Dung Vine glutinous rice balls is as follows: first, cut the Chicken Dung Vine vines and leaves into small strips. Then, grind them together with soaked glutinous rice into powder (either by milling or pounding). Next, mix in an appropriate amount of water to form small, 1-centimeter-diameter balls. Finally, boil them in hot water. Once the balls are cooked, add an appropriate amount of sugar — and delicious, tasty Chicken Dung Vine glutinous rice balls are ready.

　　After eating Chicken Dung Vine glutinous rice balls, the lingering fragrance in your mouth brings immense comfort, leaving a memory you’ll never forget.