Dragon Boat Festival, added to the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year (June 14 this year). It is held to commemorate Qu Yuan, a patriot poet and statesman during the Spring and Autumn Periods.
Qu was forced to resign and banished to the remote area of the country, being rejected by the aristocrats who believed his proposals would destroy their benefits. During his exile, Qu wrote a lot of famous poems to express his love for Chu State. He was so grieved on hearing the capital of Chu State was captured that he drowned himself in the Miluo River on the fifth of the fifth lunar month.
Local people desperately tried to save him but to no avail. They beat drums and paddled out in boats on the river to keep fish and evil spirits away from his body and also threw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water so that the fish could eat the rice rather than him.
From then on, holding dragon boat races, eating Zongzi (rice dumplings), drinking realgar wine, hanging Chinese Mugwort and Calamus on the door and wearing herbal sachets, which were believed to defer inscets and dispel evil,became the custom for the day.
Across global Chinese communities, Zongzi, the dish made with steamed glutinous rice wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves, has become the signature food of the Dragon Boat Festival. As the sweet-versus-savory Zongzi rivalry has long been playing out in China, the university canteens now offer both sweet and savory Zongzi to meet different demands. Besides, creative new arrivals will be beyond your expectation this year.
Alkaline Zongzi
Alkaline water gives the dough a distinctive yellowish tint and springy texture. Served with special syrup (made of bamboo charcoal powder and brown sugar), Fudan’s alkaline zongzi brings you sweet freshness.
Candied Date Zongzi
The sweet fruit taste of candied dates and the fragrance of reed leaves are infused into the glutinous rice.
Red Bean and Candied Date Zongzi
When gummy rice with candied dates encounters refreshing red beans, the fresh sweetness of the rice will pep you up.
Roast Pork Zongzi
The tender roast pork stuffing will fill your mouth with its rich meaty aroma.
Abalone and Mushroom Zongzi
Abalone and mushroom, a perfect combination of two popular ingredients from respectively land and sea brings the richest savoriness.
Pork Zongzi
The tender pork belly braised in soy sauce will melt in your mouth.
Pork and Salted Egg Yolk Zongzi
The perfect combination of pork belly and salted egg yolk makes the taste rich and mellow.
Latiao Zongzi
Few would expect Latiao, a popular spicy Chinese snack made of wheat flour and chili, can be now added into Zongzi. This new filling, with its unforgettable taste, will ignite your palates.
Spicy Crayfish Zongzi
The spicy crayfish tastes soft, yet firm with a springy texture and mouth-watering aroma.
Carrot Zongzi
The glutinous rice mixed with diced carrot is super refreshing in hot weather.
