Honey liang zong(蜂蜜涼粽) or honey liang zongzi(蜂蜜涼粽子) is a plain sticky rice cake cooked in bamboo leaves or similar leaves and served with honey. It may have four corners like most zongzi, or it may be triangular with only three corners. It may be sliced into pieces with string or a bamboo knife.

Honey liang zong is a specialty of the Guanzhong Plain of western-central China and can be found in Xi’an and surrounding areas. In the Guanzhong region, honey liang zong are commonly eaten for Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragonboat Festival. They are also popular in summer. These zong make a good snack or dessert and are a favorite of children.

Shaanxi Province is China’s leading producer of honey and a producer of sticky rice as well. Honey liang zong has been made in the area since the Tang Dynasty, about 600AD to 900AD.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cup short-grain sticky rice, soaked overnight
• 24 bamboo leaf, soaked overnight
• string

Directions

• place 2 leaves together, one on top of the other, with the stem ends pointing opposite ways
• fold near the edge at the center and bring the ends together to make an open cone shape
• fill with sticky rice
• fold the leaf ends over to enclose the rice
• fold excess leaf to the side and tie tightly with string
• repeat with remaining ingredients
• boil 2 to 3 hours
• let cool
• unwrap
• slice with string(wrap string around and pull tight) (optional)
• add honey
• serve