Must-Try Rice Dumplings for Tuen Ng Festival 2024

The Dragon Boat Festival, also referred to as the Tuen Ng Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 5^th day of the Dragon Boat month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is renowned for various significant events like the dragon boat races, which are vibrant and very competitive events where teams paddle heavily decorated dragon boats to the rhythm of pounding drums by other people offshore. 

This festival is one of great significance as it commemorates the life and death of a famous Chinese scholar and poet Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period.

History has it that Qu Yuan drowned himself in a river and people, who admired him greatly did all they could to save him or recover his body, and when they couldn’t find him, they threw rice dumplings, zongzi in Chinese language into the river to distract the fish and prevent them from eating his body.

Zongzi are traditional Chinese rice dumplings prepared from rice stuffed with various fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves. It has become a traditional practice in China to eat zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival and this act has continued to thrive over the years. 

Ultimately, it’s safe to say that this tradition serves as both a tribute to Qu Yuan and a show of culinary expertise of the Chinese. 

The fillings for zongzi vary from region to region and can include varieties of quality ingredients like pork, salted duck eggs, mushrooms, or other sweet options like red bean paste and dates.

Classic Rice Dumpling  (ZONGZI) Varieties

During the Dragon Boat Festival, the most popular dish is Zongzi, Chinese rice dumplings. It is like the signature of this festival and without it, the celebration is not valid. This is because of that singular act of throwing rice dumplings into the river where Qu Yuan drowned. Therefore eating Zongzi on this day is a way the Chinese remember the hero’s past and pay tribute to him to show that history never forgot him.

These pyramid-shaped rice dumplings are packed with a delicious combo of fillings like glutinous rice, pork belly, salted egg yolk, and shiitake mushrooms, creating a savory meal wrapped in woodworm leaves which automatically give you that cultural vibe and make your mouth water just by looking at it.

Some popular types of Zongzi include:

• Jiaxing Zongzi: 

Jiaxing, in Zhejiang province, is renowned for its delicious zongzi. These dumplings are basically filled with fatty pork belly and seasoned with soy sauce, giving it a rich and unique taste. One major thing they are known for in Jiaxing is their generous portions and bounty fillings.

• Cantonese Zongzi: 

This particular type of Zongzi comes in large sizes and contains varieties of ingredients. It’s the perfect Zongzi hybrid as a piece contains almost all ingredients Zongzi is known for.

• Hokkien Zongzi: 

This is the Zongzi that says yes to marinated pork belly and shiitake mushrooms. They are also known for containing taro and peanuts, which makes them taste differently but exquisite.

• Beijing Zongzi: 

This is for the lovers of the sweet version of the traditional dumpling. The red bean paste used for the fillings gives it that desert like taste, making it hard for even kids to say no to it.

Classifying Zongzi based on countries, we have:

• Chinese Zongzi: 

This is the type described earlier. They usually contain healthy animal proteins.

• Japanese Chimaki: 

A sweet version of Zongzi also made with glutinous rice but contains sweet fillings like red bean paste or chestnuts.

• Thai Ba-jang: 

This is similar to the signature Chinese zongzi but has a Thai twist to it. They are filled with similar ingredients.

• Filipino Suman: 

This version of rice dumpling is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked by steaming. It is usually sweetened with sugar taken with coconut milk.

Each and every variety has its unique flavors and recipe, perfectly reflecting the different culinary traditions of different regions.

Should you go on a tour or on an adventure in future, you should try out the aforementioned dishes and  temporarily live in the world of the Tuen Ng Festival.

As regards the upcoming festival, we’ve got some wonderful packages for you. All you need to do is pick them up and devour them!

1.MOONLIGHT FRUIT HAMPER WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING: 

Delivery service of Fruit Hampers with Rice Dumpling will be available from 27^th May.

 PLACE A PRE-ORDER NOW FOR OUR MOONLIGHT FRUIT HAMPER WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING FOR HKD 1,439.00 AND ENJOY FREE DELIVERY TO ALL METROPOLITAN AREAS IN HONG KONG.

2.DRAGON BOAT JOY HAMPER WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING:

This hamper contains Shang Palace Sticky Rice Dumpling, Tea set, Goji Berry Gift Box and Xijiang Red Dates Gift Box and many more. It will bring a whole new experience to this Dragon Boat Festival. 

Delivery service of Dragon Boat Joy Hampers with Rice Dumplings will be available from 27 May. 

PLACE A PRE-ORDER NOW FOR OUR DRAGON BOAT JOY HAMPER WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING FOR HKD 1,388.00 AND ENJOY FREE DELIVERY TO ALL METROPOLITAN AREAS IN HONG KONG.

3.FESTIVE DRAGON BOAT WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING: 

This particular hamper contains  Classic Ceramic Tea Set of 2, Shang Palace Sticky Rice Dumpling and many more exquisite items.

PLACE A PRE-ORDER NOW FOR OUR FESTIVE DRAGON BOAT WITH SHANGRI-LA RICE DUMPLING FOR HKD 1,689.00 AND ENJOY FREE DELIVERY TO ALL METROPOLITAN AREAS IN HONG KONG.

You shouldn’t let 2024 pass without you trying out these amazing rice dishes. As you traverse the world, traverse the kitchens as well and make your stomach happy. Trying out new things is another way to enjoy life and you can’t get it wrong with rice dumplings.

From the yummy animal protein  fillings to the sweet variations of red bean paste. There’s a zongzi for everyone. Embrace the tradition, enjoy it with family and friends and create lasting memories. 

Wishing you a special and savory Dragon Boat Festival filled with lots of love, laughter, and the mouthwatering zongzi dishes.

Happy Tuen Ng Festival!