Guilin Lotus Leaf Rice

Guilin Lotus Leaf Rice is a "wrapped delicacy" locking rice and ingredients' freshness in lotus leaves, exuding natural rural charm. Made by washing fresh green lotus leaves, placing them in a steamer, mixing pre-steamed glutinous rice with cured meat dices, dried shrimps, mushrooms, peas, and carrots, placing the mixture on the leaf center, wrapping the leaf tightly, and steaming over high heat for 15 minutes. Opening the leaf releases an instant burst of lotus fragrance — rice absorbs the leaf's aroma and ingredients' oil, with each grain shiny and distinct, blending cured meat's saltiness, mushroom's umami, and lotus leaf's freshness. Every rice grain carries a subtle herbal scent, with crisp 配菜 (pèicài, side dishes) complementing glutinous rice's softness for rich layers. Guilin people love bringing lotus leaf rice for spring outings or picnics — the aroma when unwrapping enhances both scenery and taste. Foreign visitors are touched by the lotus leaf's natural fragrance, finding this plant-wrapped cooking method eco-friendly and delicious, vividly showing Guilin's wisdom of "integrating nature into cuisine."