Zongzi is one of the traditional Chinese delicacies. Its production process requires the use of high-quality glutinous rice and various fillings. Although rice dumplings are generally made by steaming glutinous rice with fillings, if you want to imitate making rice dumplings using clay, that is also possible.

The materials for making clay rice dumplings include clay, paint, molds and some auxiliary tools. These materials can be purchased at art stores or online. First, choose a suitable color of clay. Generally speaking, glutinous rice dumplings are white, and other flavors of rice dumplings can be made in corresponding colors.

Next, knead the clay into a ball to make it soft. You can divide the clay into two parts and use one part for the outer shell of the rice dumplings and the other part for the filling. Roll the outer layer of clay into a round shape and flatten it. Use a mold or your fingers to dig a small hole in the center of the round circle of clay.

To make the filling, you need to roll the clay into a long strip and then place it in the center of the clay circle. You can choose different fillings according to your preference, such as mung bean paste, red bean paste, candied dates, etc. After rolling the filling into a suitable size, wrap the outer clay around the filling and seal it with your fingers.

The next step is to decorate the clay rice dumplings. You can use auxiliary tools such as toothpicks to carve out some details on the clay, such as the texture of the rice dumpling leaves, the ropes to tie the rice dumplings, etc. If you want to add texture to your rice dumplings, roll a small piece of moist clay into an elongated shape and wrap it a few times around the middle of the clay rice dumpling to mimic the rope effect of the rice dumpling.

During the entire production process, attention should be paid to controlling the humidity of the clay to avoid being too dry or too wet. If the clay is too dry, you can add an appropriate amount of water; if the clay is too wet, you can add an appropriate amount of dry clay on the workbench to absorb the excess moisture.

The clay rice dumplings can be placed in a ventilated place to dry until completely solidified. The cured clay rice dumplings can be used as cute decorations or as gifts for relatives and friends. Just note, these clay rice dumplings are not edible.

To sum up, making rice dumplings with clay is a fun craft activity. By kneading, shaping and decorating, you can create lifelike clay rice dumplings. This is an educational and entertaining process that allows people to better understand and appreciate the craftsmanship of making traditional gourmet rice dumplings.