Neiwan Ginger Lily Rice Dumplings 内湾野姜花粽

Neiwan Ginger Lily Rice Dumplings (内湾野姜花粽) are a speciality of Neiwan (内湾), a Hakka settlement in Hengshan Township (横山乡), Hsinchu County (新竹县). Ginger lily supplies both the wrapping leaves and a powdered ingredient in the rice. The plant is Hedychium coronarium, a perennial member of the ginger family.

How it is made

The roots and stems are dried and ground, then steamed with glutinous rice, mountain pepper, shiitake mushrooms, black-pig pork and Hakka preserved radish. The seasoned rice is wrapped in ginger-lily leaves and steamed a second time. The finished parcels carry the fragrance of ginger lily.

Where it comes from

Chinese Wikipedia connects the dumplings with Neiwan Old Street (内湾老街). Chinese Wikipedia also records an origin story: when transport into Neiwan was difficult, Hakka residents used the ginger lily growing abundantly along the Youluo River (油罗溪) as a seasoning.