Guilin Vegetarian Zongzi

Guilin Vegetarian Zongzi is ideal for those who prefer light flavors, made with pure vegetarian ingredients to highlight the natural taste of glutinous rice and plants. The process involves selecting plump glutinous rice, soaking it, and mixing with mung beans, red beans, peanuts, mushrooms, and lotus seeds—no meat added, seasoned only with a little salt or sugar. Wrapped in wide bamboo leaves into a rhombus or long strip, tied tightly, and boiled for 3-4 hours. When peeled, the zongzi reveals white, crystal glutinous rice dotted with various beans and nuts, with a rich, chewy texture—the softness of mung beans, creaminess of red beans, crispness of peanuts, and stickiness of glutinous rice complement each other, while mushroom's umami adds layers. Its charm lies in being refreshing and non-greasy, even when eaten in large quantities, pairing well with Guilin oil tea or clear tea to highlight the ingredients' natural fragrance. In Guilin, vegetarian zongzi is not only a Dragon Boat Festival food but also a daily choice for temple vegetarian meals or vegetarians. Foreigners will enjoy its pure plant flavors, finding this meat-free zongzi better showcases the original sweetness of rice and beans—a perfect way to experience Guilin's "beauty of simplicity" in cuisine.