🍽️ Jiaxing Zongzi

Glutinous rice dumpling with pork and yolk.

Jiaxing zongzi is Zhejiang's most famous seasonal snack, known nationwide especially for its pork and salted-egg-yolk versions. Glutinous rice from the region is wrapped in broad reed leaves and tied tight with straw string, then boiled for a long time. The pork zong uses marbled pork marinated so the rice absorbs the savory meat juices and turns glossy and rich; the yolk version adds an oily, savory salted egg yolk for deeper flavor. Jiaxing zongzi are famed for their neat square shape, sticky rice and tender meat, best eaten hot straight from the leaf. Originally a Dragon Boat Festival food, it has become one of Jiangnan's most iconic ready-to-eat snacks and a widely shipped souvenir.