The glutinous rice is wrapped into a pyramid shape using bamboo leaves, and boiled till the rice is cooked. Fillings - pork belly, salted egg yolk, dried shrimps, mushroom, and dried chestnuts. Another version is white in colour. Fillings - Pork belly meat with crushed peanuts. Nowadays, there are many regional variations: in black bean paste, without fillings, chicken to cater different tastes and lifestyles.I had two just now for lunch and the former is my favourite. Nowadays, the Ba Chang can be bought from most Chinese restaurants any day of the year. I have yet to learn how to make it as I am dummy in wrapping things, worse if it comes to wrapping food.
So, what is the history behind this? Every food has a story to tell. That is the delight of gastronomy.
This is to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet from the kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period. Known for his patriotism, Qu Yuan tried to warn his king and countrymen against the expansionism of their Qin neighbours. When the Qin Dynasty general Bai Qi took Yingdu, the Chu capital, in 278 BC, Qu Yuan's grief was so intense that he drowned himself in the Miluo river after penning the Lament for Ying.
According to legend, packets of rice were thrown into the river to prevent fish from eating the poet's body. This is also believed to be the origin of the Dragon Boat Race in which the race will deter the fish from the poet's body.
2 comments:
Sir can u share some simple recipe?hehe looking forward to it..
I find this the most interesting post in your blog, mate.
I've been longing to know the story behind the Chinese Dumpling Festival as well as what a dimpling actually is.
For years I've been schooling in a Chinese school, but I've never even have any slight idea of the Chinese Dumpling festival.
Alas, I find your post most pleasant to read since it is well written and simplified, mate.
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