Recently, at the "Maoming Intangible Cultural Heritage Half-Hour" cultural exhibition in Guangdong Province, the craftsmanship of "Azhu's He" (阿朱家籺), an intangible cultural heritage project, made a stunning debut, showcasing the charm of this culinary tradition to the public.
He (籺) is a type of local snack made from glutinous rice. At the event, the booth of Azhu's He was bustling with crowds. Inheritors of this intangible cultural heritage demonstrated traditional techniques, from ingredient selection to food shaping, creating delicacies that left the audience exclaiming, "delicious."
It is known that making and eating He is a traditional and essential custom for people in western Guangdong during festivals. In ancient times, people used He to pray for favorable weather during festivals, offer sacrifices to ancestors on memorial days and the Qingming Festival, and give them as gifts during joyous occasions. Azhu's He has been passed down since the first year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty.
In recent years, Azhu's He has innovated in flavors, developing new varieties such as Qingtuan, purple sweet potato He, and pumpkin He.
Reporter | Yan Zhixiong
Photo | Maonan District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports
Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He
