Shoppers explore a vibrant assortment of zongzi at a local supermarket ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Evening News
Zongzi, a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves that is typically enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival, is becoming increasingly popular overseas.
According to data from Shenzhen Customs, the export volume of zongzi from Shenzhen exceeded 134 metric tons in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 112.5%.
Traditionally, Shenzhen-made zongzi were mostly sent to Hong Kong and Macao, but that's quickly changing.
Orders have started flowing in from other markets, including Singapore, the Middle East, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the U.S., as international consumers show more interest in Chinese holiday foods, according to Shenzhen Customs.
At Santa Ana Bakery in Bao'an district, employees were busy wrapping and steaming zongzi for global shipments. "Our export orders are up 14% this year compared with last year," said Wan Yingfang, a manager at the bakery. "Production started earlier, as demand was rising."
Huang Dexing, the manager of another zongzi factory in Shenzhen, recently conducted a video tour for a British client. "Welcome to our factory," he said. "We produce approximately 10,000 zongzi each day, all freshly steamed to perfection."
Each zongzi is meticulously hand-wrapped by skilled workers, who can produce 600 to 700 pieces per day.
Amid growing international interest, the factory is actively exploring new markets like Singapore, the Netherlands, the U.S., and Vancouver.
Zongzi, a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, is typically enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival. File photo
While classic Cantonese savory zongzi — such as those filled with salted egg yolk and pork— remains the top export, innovative flavors like seafood and fruit zongzi are also gaining traction.
Zongzi fillings are also being exported on their own, opening up even more international opportunities.
These products not only bring comfort to overseas Chinese communities but also help share Chinese culture with a wider global audience, said Zhu Danpeng, an independent food and beverage analyst.
Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong Province and Jiaxing in eastern China's Zhejiang Province are China's three major zongzi exporting cities. The zongzi export season peaks between March and May annually.
