The reason why the zongzi leaves are easy to crack is that the palm leaves are not tough. Put them in boiling water for two or three minutes before taking them out. This will make the dried zongzi leaves more flexible and make them soft and not easy to crack. In addition, the leaves of rice dumplings can be sterilized at high temperature, and the wrapped rice dumplings are cleaner and more hygienic.
The life of dried zongzi leaves is relatively long, and they can be used for several years. Just wash them after each package and hang them to dry. At the same time, glutinous rice can absorb the fragrance of zongzi leaves more easily, and the wrapped zongzi is more fragrant. Zongzi leaves can be divided into reed leaves and Ruo leaves. Generally, Indocalamus leaves are dominant in the south, and reed leaves are dominant in the north. Zongzi leaves generally contain a lot of chlorophyll and amino acids that are beneficial to human body, and its special antiseptic effect is also one of the reasons why Zongzi is easy to preserve.
Types of zongzi leaves
1, Quercus, FAGACEAE. Also known as Poirot macrophylla, it is a rare macrophylla tree species in northern China. When the mistletoe leaves grow well, it coincides with the Dragon Boat Festival. The mistletoe bags and mistletoe pendants in the mountainous areas at the junction of Shaanxi and Henan, and the Polo-leaf zongzi in Shandong Peninsula are all wrapped with mistletoe leaves, and the tied zongzi is thick and long, like a double pillow. Japanese cypress cakes are actually rice cakes with mistletoe leaves. Some people say that the bitter taste of boiled dumplings with oak leaves makes it difficult to be popular. In fact, the bigger reason is that cultivated land in plain areas is precious and no oak trees are planted.
2, reed, Gramineae Arundinae. Also known as awn leaf, wild grass and reed leaf grass, it grows in the south subtropical and tropical regions and has wider leaves than reeds. From eastern Guangdong to western Guangdong, from Hakka to Tujia, awn leaf is one of the most commonly used zongzi leaves in Guangdong province, which constitutes a major element of authentic Cantonese zongzi. Fujian, Yunnan, Hunan and other places have also been adopted. Farmhouse is cultivated, but wild awn leaves are better.
3, pandanus, pandanaceae plants. Also known as hexiaxiong or forest side, Ludou, Guzi, and wild pineapple, they are tropical evergreen shrubs. Its leaves have sharp thorns and must be removed before use. Ludou Zongzi in Zhongshan, Guangdong, the ancient Zongzi in Lianjiang, the wrapped Zongzi in Enping, the Chashan Zongzi in Dongguan and the Nanzha Zongzi are wrapped by it, which are long cylindrical or flat pyramid-shaped. Duck-shaped dumplings in Leizhou Peninsula are made of exposed leaves and woven into duck-shaped shells. Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan also have Lou Dou Zongzi.
4. Peach, Alpinia officinarum, zingiberaceae. This kind of zingiberaceae is native to tropical Asia. Taiwan Province Tainan's Yuetaoye scallop dumplings and vegetable dumplings are world-famous, while Hakka Yuetaoye dumplings have a unique flavor. Liang Jiang Ye pig's gizzard and duck's gizzard in Yunguichuan are also delicious snacks. Occasionally, leaves of Amomum villosum or Amomum tsaoko of the same family can be used.
The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Zongye