If you’re a fan of the pyramid-shaped treat, you’re in luck! With the Dragon Boat Festival on 25 June 2020, zongzi is back in the limelight. Having been associated with the Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie) for more than a millennium, steamed glutinous rice packages are a festival staple.
Rice dumplings come in a variety of versions—from sweet and savoury to being wrapped in reed leaves or bamboo leaves. Some are made with white rice and some purple. Did you know that rice dumplings can also come in various shapes? Although traditionally made to resemble a pyramid, some are shaped to form a cone or a simple triangle.
The festival indulgence is popular in Malaysia (and many other countries in Asia). As time progresses, there have been a surge in unique concoctions—with special ingredients that weren’t used historically. While people no longer toss dumplings into the river to celebrate Chinese poet Qu Yuan, they commemorate by enjoying the delicacy instead.
If you’re searching for luxurious and scrumptious zongzi (or zang), check out the options below.
1. InterContinental Kuala Lumpur
The hotel’s Tao Chinese Cuisine is honouring the annual Dragon Boat Festival tradition with a unique assortment of glutinous rice dumpling. Curated by Executive Dim Sum Chef Lo and his team, the dumplings are made in-house and wrapped individually with traditional lotus leaves. Options include the Brown Rice Glutinous Dumpling with Morel Mushroom and Abalone; and the Spicy Nyonya Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Shrimp and Diced Chicken.
Tao Chinese Cuisine’s dumplings are available for dine-in and takeaway. Advanced reservation is required for takeaways and deliveries (see the link here).
Availability: 15 June to 25 June 2020
Contact: 03 2782 6128
2. The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur
To celebrate Dragon Boat Festival, Li Yen from The Ritz-Carlton KL has created a delectable range of glutinous rice dumplings. The Duck and Chestnut Glutinous Rice Dumpling includes duck meat, dried scallops, salted egg yolk, and chestnut. You can also opt for the dumplings with Red Bean Paste or Sweet Lotus.
They are available for home delivery and takeaway. To place an order, contact the number provided below. All orders to be placed and paid from 11am to 7pm daily.
Availability: 12 June to 25 June 2020
Contact: 018 646 8033
3. JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur
Savour Shanghai‘s glutinous rice dumplings at home with their home delivery and takeaway service. True to tradition with a Shanghainese interpretation, choices include the Spanish Pork and Salted Egg Yolk Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Spanish pork, salted egg yolk, and chestnut; as well as the Sweet Osmanthus and Five-Bean Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Osmanthus-flavoured syrup. All orders to be placed and paid from 11am to 7pm daily.
Availability: 12 June to 25 June 2020
Contact: 018 591 8537
4. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
The hotel’s Lai Po Heen has curated a delectable range of glutinous rice dumplings in conjunction with Dragon Boat Festival. You can order by contacting the number provided below. There are five options to choose from. The Steamed Supreme Sea Treasures and Abalone Glutinous Rice Dumpling (RM98) comes with abalone, dried scallop, dried shrimp, chestnut, fresh lotus seed, mushroom, salted egg yolk, green bean, and chicken; whereas the Mushroom Unagi Glutinous Rice Dumpling (RM68) is served with chestnut and X.O sauce.
You can also get the Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Black Pepper Wagyu Beef Cheek (RM88) or the Heritage Traditional Nyonya Glutinous Rice Dumpling (RM48) with chicken, dry winter melon, shallot, mushroom, and garlic. There is also a vegetarian option (RM38) in the form of assorted beetroot, seng kuang, bamboo pith, carrot, snow fungus, and fresh mushrooms.
Availability: 8 June to 25 June 2020
Contact: 03 2330 8798
5. Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur
Shang Palace has created a plethora of dumplings—including Sweetened Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Red Bean Paste and Walnuts; Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Salted Chicken, Egg, and Preserved Vegetables; as well as Hong Kong Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Abalone, Assorted Nuts, and Supreme Spicy Sauce. They are available for dine-in, delivery, and takeaway.
Availability: 11 June to 25 June 2020
Contact: 03 2032 2388
6. Troika Sky Dining
This year, there are three delicious types of rice dumplings to choose from. The Chermoula Chicken in coconut and blue pea flower glutinous rice dumpling comes with fresh Cameron Highland pearl corn, coconut kerabu, and wintermelon pickle whereas Mr Chew’s famous Catfish Charsiew in glutinous rice dumpling is served with salted egg, braised mushroom, smoked chestnut, green papaya somtam, and white fungus passion fruit pickle.
You can also go for the Chilli Beef brisket with three grains dumpling, chestnut, salted egg, braised peanuts, red bean, mushroom, black bean avocado salsa, and pumpkin chestnut pickle. To order, head over to the link provided below and your dumplings will be delivered to you.
Availability: Until 25 June 2020
Do you celebrate Duan Wu Jie? Rice dumplings have been a mainstay in the culinary realm of Chinese traditions for a long time, and will continue to be well-adored. The options above highlight some of the most decadent rice dumplings you can get in Kuala Lumpur in 2020. Happy Dragon Boat Festival, everyone!
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