Guilin Lotus Seed Paste Zongzi

Guilin Lotus Seed Paste Zongzi is a favorite among sweet lovers, made with lotus seed paste from local lotus ponds, paired with glutinous rice—sweet but not cloying. To make the paste, fresh lotus seeds (with cores removed) are steamed, mashed into a puree, stir-fried with sugar and a little lard until thick, creating a smooth, dense filling. Soaked glutinous rice is wrapped in bamboo leaves, with a large piece of lotus seed paste in the middle, tied tightly, and boiled for 4 hours. Peeling the leaves reveals white, shiny glutinous rice and pale yellow lotus paste that melts in the mouth. The lotus' fragrance blends with the rice's slight sweetness, and lard makes the paste smoother without greasiness. Guilin's lotus seeds, nourished by clear water, are naturally sweet, so the paste needs little sugar to taste delicious. In Guilin, lotus seed paste zongzi is not just for the Dragon Boat Festival but also a daily tea snack, paired with jasmine tea to refresh the palate. Foreigners will be amazed by how 细腻 (xìnì, smooth) the lotus seed filling is, finding it like a "Chinese dessert zongzi"—soft glutinous rice wraps sweet lotus paste, with a faint floral aroma in every bite, a sweetness created by Guilin people from natural ingredients.