In celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival, Hai Yan at The Ritz Carlton, Langkawi introduces a limited-time menu, which transports you over 1000-years in time to ancient China, when the legend began.
During the historical Warring States period, a well-known Chinese poet and minister named Qu Yuan took his own life after he was accused of betraying his own country. Qu Yuan jumped into the Miluo River, and in an attempt to save him, the villagers threw lumps of sticky rice into the river so that his body was not eaten by the fishes. Known also as the Duan Wu Festival, it is celebrated each year on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and is an important celebration in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore.
In honor of the legend of Qu Yuan, one of the most well-known ways to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, is to indulge Zong Zi, traditional Chinese glutinous rice dumplings. Dim Sum Chef J. Jay, and the team at Hai Yan have come up with three exquisite variations: the vegetarian Nyonya Rice Dumpling, Hokkien Rice Dumpling and the Red Bean Rice Dumpling. Each gourmet dumpling has its own unique and exciting flavor, and is wrapped in banana leaves to produce a tantalizing aroma after being steamed to perfection.
Red Bean Rice Dumpling (豆沙碱水粽子)
Leaning towards the sweeter side, this dumpling is ideal as a ‘dessert’ after the two savory offerings. It is made with creamy, homemade red bean paste, sweet sauce, and a splash of alkaline water to preserved the flavors of each ingredient.
Vegetarian Nyonya Rice Dumpling (斋娘惹粽)
Made with plant-based meat, this is for guests who are vegetarian, and is combined with winter melon sugar and coriander powder for a delicate flavor, that does not overpower the senses. Drawing from local influences, homegrown butterfly pea flowers are used to dye the glutinous rice blue.
Hokkien Rice Dumpling (五香鸡肉粽)
Gourmands craving a more savory dish can indulge in the meaty Hokkien Rice Dumpling, that is a staple of the Dragon Boat Festival. Fragrant and tender chicken, is steamed with salted egg yolk, dried shrimp, chestnuts and glutinous rice, resulting in a decadent dumpling boasting the optimum balance of sweet and salty.
Available for takeaway or dine-in, these artisanal rice dumplings are made fresh daily, and retail for and RM28 for the Red Bean Rice Dumpling, RM38 for the Vegetarian Nyonya Rice Dumpling and RM68 for the Hokkien Rice Dumpling. The Dragon Boat Festival at Hai Yan, runs from 14 June 2023 to 25 June 2023, from 1.00pm – 4.00pm and 6.30pm – 11.30pm.
