My First Sticky Rice Dumpling

I’ve been living in Hangzhou for nearly two years now, and this was my second Dragon Boat Festival here. On May 28, 2025, just before the holiday, I had the opportunity to join a sticky rice dumpling-making workshop organized by my university. The moment I saw the event poster, I signed up immediately — I had always wanted to try making sticky rice dumplings myself!

At the start of the workshop, we were given aprons, hats, and masks for hygiene. The instructor then walked us through the process step by step. First, we selected fresh, unbroken bamboo leaves and soaked them in hot water to make them pliable. Then came the folding: holding the leaves firmly, we shaped them into a conical pocket — which took a bit of practice. Next, we spooned in a layer of sticky glutinous rice, added marinated pork for the filling, and topped it off with another layer of rice. The real challenge was sealing everything neatly — folding the leaves just right to avoid spills and ensuring the shape stayed tight and compact. Finally, we tied the dumpling securely with cotton string, being careful not to crush it in the process.

Though it looked simple when demonstrated, doing it ourselves was a completely different story. The instructor patiently moved from table to table, correcting our folds, adjusting the angle of the leaves, and showing us how to hold everything securely. Thanks to their guidance, I managed to finish my very first rice dumpling!

As a Chinese-Malaysian, I grew up watching my grandmother prepare sticky rice dumplings and honor our ancestors during the festival, but I had never actually tried making them myself. This hands-on experience helped me appreciate the craftsmanship behind the tradition and made me feel more deeply connected to my heritage.

I left the workshop with a warm heart and a newfound appreciation for culture, community, and the simple joy of creating something by hand!