Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice

Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice from Yizhou district, Hechi city, is one of the distinctive specialties for celebrating the Laba Festival in Guangxi. It was listed in the seventh batch of representative projects of intangible cultural heritage items of Guangxi in 2018. 

Huaiyuan town residents start making Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice a month before the Spring Festival. The ingredients resemble Laba porridge, including glutinous rice, red dates, and dried fruits. Throughout history, the Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice has served as a dessert for Yizhou people during festivals and celebrations.

The ingredients and production process of Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice are very particular. High-quality local glutinous rice is the main ingredient, with additional ingredients including green bean paste, red dates, preserved fruits, lotus seeds, barbecue pork, and melon seeds. 

The Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice goes through four major processes, including ingredient preparation, material processing, bowl filling, and steaming, combined with techniques such as grinding, steaming, frying, baking, cutting, and shaping. It is typically shaped like a round flower, with the main color being the white of the glutinous rice, and the color contrast is simple with apparent layers. The flavor profile is characterized by a sweetness complemented by a subtle hint of saltiness. It is both aromatic and delectable, leaving a persistent aftertaste that enhances the overall tasting experience.

The cooking techniques and concepts of Huaiyuan Eight-treasure Rice were fully developed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and have been continuously enriched and perfected over the generations. Its use and process of sugar are unique among all dessert dishes.