Have you ever wondered what are these pyramid-shaped delicacies?
Do you know that they have a long history---since the 3rd century?
They not only taste delicious, they have a wonderful Chinese story to share.

Long ago, during the third century there lived a Chinese poet-statesman named Qu Yuan (Mandarin), Wat Yuen (Cantonese).  He was a loyal emperor's advisor.  Although he was a loyal patriot, he was dismissed by the emperor because he was very frank and direct about the corruption in the imperial court.  Feeling that he can no longer serve, nor save his beloved country, he committed suicide by jumping in the Mi Luo River in the Hunan Province in 296 B.C.

When people heard of this, they went out into their boats to search for the body.  They threw rice into the river to lure the fish away and prevent them from devouring the body.  They also eat on gongs and drums to scare the sharks away.

In later year, to commemorate his death every year on the fifth day of the fifth month, Chinese celebrate Duan Wu (Mandarin), Tuen Ng (Cantonese) festival or it is better known as the Dragon Boat Festival,  The Chinese character Duan/Tuen means proper, direct, decent, upright, beginning, a cause, a reason or an event and extremity.  Wu/Ng means noon or mid-year.

For many years after his death, people put rice in hollow bamboo poles and offered to Qu Yuan, they threw them into the river on the anniversary of his death.  During the Han Dynasty, an apparition of Qu Yuan was seen and it complained that he did not get the food because the sea dragons ate them all.  It suggested that the rice should be tied up in bamboo leaves.  Thus glutinous rice was offered in bamboo leaves.

Nowadays, this is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.  Dragon boat races are held.  This symbolizes their desire to race across the water to save the patriotic Qu Yuan.  Dragon boat races is not only local, but international.  Different teams are in colorful uniforms, flags, drums, paddles and beautifully decorated boats.  Everyone cheers on the race.

Instead of throwing rice into the rivers, people made jungdz (rice wrapped in large bamboo leaves in pyramid shaped delicacies) to eat.  Many different varieties are invented.  Some have meat and some are sweet.

Boil Jungdz for a few minutes and the sweet ones can be eaten with pancake syrup/sugar.