Hotels Cash in on Zongzi Boom with Innovative Offerings – Xihua’s Eight-Treasure Lucky Bag Zongzi Priced at NT$2,000 Each

▲ Xihua’s Abalone Eight-Treasure Lucky Bag Zongzi weighs 800g and costs NT$2,000. (Photo / Provided by Xihua)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, hotels have started promoting various zongzi products. In addition to traditional zongzi, there are also creative options, such as Junpin’s Fish and Lamb Zongzi. Xihua has introduced a hefty 1-jin (500g) zongzi containing two South African abalones and dried scallops, priced at NT$2,000 each.

Taipei Xihua Hotel offers a variety of signature zongzi, including Xihua’s Beef Liver Mushroom and Abalone Zongzi, Xihua’s Private Reserve Preserved Meat and Cherry Duck Zongzi, Xihua’s Lily Flowing-Sand Purple Rice Zongzi, and the top-tier exclusive Xihua Abalone Eight-Treasure Lucky Bag Zongzi. The latter contains two premium live South African abalones, dried scallops, liver sausage, preserved sausage, chestnuts, salted egg yolk, and glutinous rice, all wrapped in marinated high-quality black pork stomach from Taiwan, then encased in bamboo and lotus leaves. Each zongzi weighs over 1 jin (approximately 800g) and is priced at NT$2,000.

▲ Grilled Eel Dōmyōji Rice Zongzi. (Photo / Provided by Taipei Windsor)

Taipei Windsor has introduced five themed zongzi this year: Grilled Eel Dōmyōji Rice Zongzi (NT$368 each), Taiwanese Black Treasure Pork Fresh Meat Zongzi (NT$198 each), Tower-Scented King Oyster Mushroom Zongzi (NT$128 each), Purple Rice and Longan Fried Sticky Rice Zongzi (NT$58 each), and Purple Rice and Longan Red Bean Zongzi (NT$58 each). There are also three gift sets: the Premium Aroma Gift Set, Dragon Boat Festival Gift Set, and Duanwu Gift Set. Pre-orders before May 30, 2015, enjoy approximately 13% off.

Taipei Fuhang Hotel is promoting Huzhou-style, Cantonese-style, and creative Q zongzi this year. Options include the Premium Seafood Zongzi (NT$388 each), packed with a variety of seafood delicacies, the Tiger Paw Scholar’s Zongzi (NT$128 each) for good luck for exam-takers, the Traditional Pickled Vegetable and Salted Egg Yolk Zongzi (NT$90 each) with a classic flavor, and chef-created innovations like the Lychee Rose Zongzi (NT$75 each) and Black Sugar Macadamia Nut Zongzi (NT$75 each). Orders placed on the Fuhang website now also enjoy a 10% discount, and purchases over NT$2,000 after the discount come with a NT$200 dining voucher.

▲ Taipei Sheraton’s Classic Cantonese Abalone Glutinous Rice Zongzi. (Photo / Provided by Taipei Sheraton)

Taipei Sheraton’s Banquet Hall and Chen Garden offer three exquisite handmade zongzi gift boxes: the Sesame Oil Double Happiness Zongzi Gift Box (8 pieces) for NT$1,200, featuring tender chicken thighs with rich wine and sesame oil aroma paired with Matsusaka pork; the Classic Taiwanese Zongzi Gift Box (6 pieces) for NT$899, a popular Taipei Sheraton item; and the Mixed Glutinous Rice Zongzi Gift Box (2 pieces) for NT$1,080, consisting of the filling-packed Classic Cantonese Abalone Glutinous Rice Zongzi and the refreshing Sweet Cantonese Cranberry Glutinous Rice Zongzi.