Dafang Gayayellow Rice Cake

Dafang Gayayellow Rice Cake

　　Dafang Gayayellow Rice Cake is a specialty of Dafang County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. The finished Gayayellow Rice Cake is apricot-yellow or cherry-red in color, with a superior texture—soft, chewy, moist, and sweet—offering a delightful taste that embodies the sweetness of life.

　　Yellow rice cake is a snack enjoyed by every local in Dafang, symbolizing the auspicious meanings of abundant harvests and family togetherness. The traditional method involves grinding glutinous rice, non-glutinous rice, and soybeans into a paste, then steaming it over high heat and drying it over low heat—hence it is commonly known as "dried yellow rice cake." Nowadays, with machines available, the process is simplified: the aforementioned ingredients are ground into powder, mixed with water and sugar into a dough, wrapped in corn leaves, and then steamed or dried.

　　Among Dafang’s yellow rice cakes, “Gayayellow Rice Cake” enjoys the highest reputation, known far and wide across neighboring counties.

　　Gayayi was one of the nine post stations established by Shexiang, and is now part of Dongguan Township. The area produces sweet and cool sand-filtered water, which contributes to the superior texture of the yellow rice cakes made there. The finished product is apricot-yellow or cherry-red in color, soft, chewy, moist, and sweet—offering a delightful taste that embodies the sweetness of life. Legend has it that yellow rice cake was one of the staple foods of postal couriers, as it was easy to carry and could be preserved without drying out. The fame of Gayayellow Rice Cake stems from the legacy of Shexiang’s nine post stations.