Jiuxi Rice Cakes

Jiuxi Rice Cakes

　　Jiuxi rice cakes are a specialty snack from Jiuxi Town, Jiangchuan County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province

　　Made from glutinous rice, these rice cakes are a type of food product. Especially those made by the farmers of Jiuxi, they are considered an exceptional treat on the dining table. It's customary for locals to process them around the Spring Festival each year. When guests from far away visit, locals will take out their homemade rice cakes, fry them in fragrant oil, and serve them to guests. The fried rice cakes, golden-hued beneath their white surface, are both aromatic and visually appealing, boasting a crisp texture and sweet taste that earns high praise.

　　Jiuxi rice cakes are easy to make. Soak glutinous rice in water for about a day, then steam it until cooked. Pour it into a stone mortar and pound it until about 80% mashed, then sprinkle in pre-ground tangerine peel, Sichuan peppercorns, and white sugar. Continue pounding until no rice grains are visible. Once pounded, shape the mixture into mooncake-like rounds by hand, cover with pine needles, and let it cool for two to four days. Then use a specially designed push-planer to flatten the cakes into uniform long strips, and cut these strips into small rectangular pieces with a kitchen knife. Dry them in the sun — timing and heat control are key, and they should be dried in one go. Over-drying makes them brittle, while under-drying leaves them doughy inside. If they’re not fully dried the first time, bring them indoors to dry naturally without exposure to wind.