Duck-Shaped Zongzi (Yana Zong)

Yana zong—"yana" meaning mother duck—is a zongzi whose langku reed leaves are woven by hand into the shape of a duck, stuffed with glutinous rice, dried shrimp, peanut and pork, then boiled whole, lifelike outside and generous within.

Yana zong emerged in the Leizhou Peninsula of the 1960s and 70s, when chickens and ducks were scarce; people skilled at weaving palm mats shaped reed leaves into ducks to delight children, and the treat grew into a Dragon Boat Festival must.

Shared by the family around the Dragon Boat Festival, one unwraps the woven leaves to find rice steeped in leaf fragrance and filling, eaten warm or cool as a festive staple.

The hand-woven duck shape of langku reed leaves sets yana zong apart from any ordinary zongzi.