The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Have you bought "Zongzi" to mark the occasion? Before you do that, here are some reminders from the Guangzhou Consumers Commission.
No. 1 Beware of Zongzi with green and bright leaves
Zongzi, also called glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves, is an essential food for the Dragon Boat Festival. However, consuming those with green and bright leaves may be harmful to your health, as the processed leaves can contain excessive amounts of copper.
Therefore, whether purchasing online or offline, you need to select trusted platforms or sellers and carefully inspect the package, tag information, and odour before bringing it into the kitchen.
How to recognize substandard products? First of all, you need to observe the color change of the leaves. Usually, the leaves will turn dark and yellow after being heated at a high temperature. Secondly, Zongzi made with original bamboo leaves will exude a refreshing fragrance, while those made with leaves that have a faint smell of sulfur are not of good quality. Lastly, you can determine this by looking at the boiled water. The water will be light yellow after boiling normal Zongzi, while it will be light green for those that are not qualified.
No. 2 Preserve Zongzi accordingly and eat it in moderation
Zongzi is a kind of food with high calories, high fat, and high starch content, which reminds people to consume it in moderation. It is recommended that one consumes a maximum of three Zongzi per day (each weighing around 50 grams).
Due to the high temperatures during the Dragon Boat Festival, different types of Zongzi need to be stored as instructed.
For Zongzi with vacuum packaging, you should store and consume them before the expiry date, following suggested methods.
For freshly-made Zongzi, it is advisable to buy them as needed and consume them promptly. If there are any leftovers, they should be stored in the freezer and consumed within three days.
For homemade Zongzi, it is important to purchase fresh bamboo leaves and ingredients from a reputable supermarket. Additionally, ensure that everything is clean and properly washed throughout the entire preparation process.
No.3 Zongzi goes better with different kinds of tea
Different flavors of Zongzi taste better with different kinds of tea. For instance, it is recommended to eat rice-only Zongzi (白粽) with flower tea, sweet Zongzi (甜粽) with green tea, salty Zongzi (咸粽) with oolong tea, and meat Zongzi (肉粽) with Pu'er tea.
Author | Fanny
Editor | Will, James
Photos | Nanfang Daily
