Why are most of the leaves used to wrap zongzi now are Indocalamus leaves and reed leaves? In fact, compared with the leaves of other plants, the advantages of these two kinds of leaves are very obvious. First, they are easy to wrap zongzi into triangles, which is actually resistant to cooking and will not rot because of long-term cooking. Finally, the leaves of these plants are not only fragrant and pleasant, but also contain a lot of amino acids and other ingredients that are beneficial to the human body.
1, Ruoye
Indocalamus leaves are the leaves of Indocalamus, which are widely distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, so in the south, most people will choose the leaves of this plant to make zongzi. Indocalamus leaves are evergreen all the year round and relatively wide, which can be used not only as a home greening plant, but also as a cash crop! After all, the leaves of Indocalamus can be preserved after being picked and sold as zongzi leaves, and it is also a common herbal medicine plant in many areas in the south.
2. Reed leaves
Reed leaves are perennial herbs, which are also common in northern China. Their stems can be used to weave reed mats, but also to make paper. Their roots are also medicinal herbs, and reed leaves can also be used to make zongzi leaves. In northern China, where there are few broad bamboo leaves, reed leaves are commonly used.
Besides Indocalamus leaves and reed leaves, a kind of rice dumpling leaf belonging to the genus Aspidistra of Liliaceae is also a common rice dumpling leaf in southwest Yunnan and Guizhou. It looks like a banana leaf, which is also rich in nutrition and has a clear fragrance. It is also very good for making rice dumplings!
Finally, if you still know which plants can also be used to make zongzi, please leave a message below to see what plants are used to make zongzi locally!