Osmanthus Sweet Lotus Root

Osmanthus sweet lotus root is a traditional dessert of Suzhou and the wider Jiangnan region: glutinous rice is packed into the holes of fresh lotus root, simmered until soft, then sliced and glazed with osmanthus syrup, blending the rice's fragrance with sweet osmanthus.

The water towns around Suzhou are rich in lotus root, and osmanthus is the city flower; this dessert unites the two as an autumn seasonal treat of the region.

Sliced and served warm or chilled, eaten slowly in its osmanthus syrup, the natural sweetness of the root and the floral aroma complement each other.

Rice-filled root holes, a soft and gently sweet bite and a rich osmanthus fragrance make it a hallmark dessert of the Jiangnan water towns.