Rice Dumpling

The most popular dish during Dragon Boat Festival is rice dumpling, originally eaten in memory of the patriot Chu Yuan.

It is said that after the poet-statesman Chu Yuan ended his life by drowning, people began throwing balls of sweet rice wrapped in bamboo leaves into the Miluo River to keep the fish from eating the patriot's body. Over time these rice balls became more elaborate and varied with the addition of pork, peanuts, salted eggs, and other fillings, gradually evolving into the modern day.

The Chinese are lovers of food and drink, and nowhere is this more apparent than the plethora of different types of rice dumpling. No matter how large or small, sweet or savory, with meat or vegetarian, rice dumpling come in almost every size and flavor imaginable. In Taiwan, it is very convenient to buy ready-to-eat rice dumpling which gradually evolving into a snack eaten during normal occasions. However, many families still prefer to make their own. This is especially true of families with children preparing for the once-a-year college entrance exams held after Dragon Boat Festival, since it is believed that eating homemade rice dumpling before the test will help bring high scores.