Here’s where to get the best rice dumplings – a classic treat for Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival arrives in a couple of weeks, and that means gearing up to indulge in an all-time favourite Chinese treat: rice dumplings – or more often referred to as bak zhang or zongzi in Singapore.

Traditionally, these bamboo leaf-wrapped glutinous rice parcels are stuffed with braised pork, mung beans and salted egg yolks. What began as a humble yet hearty dish has evolved with new gastronomic ingredients – think foie gras, caviar and black truffle – befitting refined tastes.

As the Dragon Boat festivities roar back to life, check out these acclaimed establishments for the best rice dumplings.

Crystal Jade 

You can rest assured that the rice dumplings at Crystal Jade come as highly rated as their Michelin-starred Cantonese favourites. It’s simplicity at its best with the Roasted Iberico Pork Belly with Hokkaido Conpoy dumpling, where a smoky slice of pork belly is wedged within the sticky conpoy-infused rice. Another new addition is the Petite Peach Gum with Yuzu Peel Crystal Jelly Dumpling studded with nourishing peach gum, wolfberries and yuzu peel. The citrusy dumpling is best savoured chilled.

Hai Tien Lo

Every Dragon Boat Festival, Hai Tien Lo whips up their signature rice dumplings just in time for get-togethers. Perfect for impressing crowds, the Traditional Jumbo Rice Dumpling with Abalone is stuffed with slices of pork belly, salted egg yolk, chestnuts, green bean lotus seed and a whole abalone. Back by popular demand are Classic Taiwanese Dumpling with Sesame Oil Chicken, Cantonese Pork Dumpling and their sweet Teochew Dumpling, which pays homage to orh nee.

Hua Ting

It’s a marriage of tradition and global inspirations for Hua Ting’s latest selection of rice dumplings. Curated by award-winning master chef Lap Fai, the umami-laden range includes the classic glutinous rice dumpling, elevated with South African abalone, slices of pork belly and roasted duck; and a foie gras, black truffle and portobello mushroom variety. Chef Fai also spices up the offering by pairing the savoury dumplings with Hua Ting’s signature house-made X.O. Chilli Sauce in a relatively pocket-friendly combo. 

Joo Chiat Kim Choo

If you’re looking to commemorate the occasion with a gourmet set, this six-piece Emperor’s Heirloom collection from Joo Chiat Kim Choo is the perfect option. Presented in a Bynd Artisan leatherette box, the Emperor’s Rice Dumplings are crammed with fillings (premium braised pork slices, Chinese sausage, shiitake, dried scallops, salted egg yolk, gingko nuts and chestnuts) enhanced by Joo Chiat Kim Choo’s secret recipe – an intricate blend of 22 spices. As if that’s not enough, the box lid even doubles as a charming valet tray to beautify spaces at home.

Man Fu Yuan

Meet the mother of all dumplings for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival. The mammoth-sized XXL Jumbo Rice Dumpling is loaded with ginger chicken, mushrooms, Chinese sausages, spring onions, dried shrimps and salted egg yolk – perfect for a party of five diners. Those who’ve enjoyed Man Fu Yuan’s dumplings in the past can once again delight in their Signature X.O. Sauce Nyonya Rice Dumpling, stuffed with minced pork marinated in an award-winning X.O. chilli sauce and sweetened with strips of winter melon and dried shrimp.

Min Jiang

Min Jiang picks up cues from well-loved local flavours, weaving in some rather unexpected ingredients for the celebration this year. The Laksa Dumpling with Sambal Chilli, for instance, has a piquant mix of chillies, lemongrass and laksa leaves, along with shredded chicken and sakura ebi. There’s also the Bak Kut Teh Dumpling, with its full-bodied peppery flavour owing to whole peppercorns, fried garlic and Chinese herbs. For those looking for a more familiar flavour, reach for the Classic Hokkien-style Dumpling made with succulent pork belly slices, shiitake mushrooms and chestnuts.

Paradise Group

Paradise Group presents two new tempting creations to draw in glutinous rice dumpling fans this year. Their Specialty Truffle Char Siew Rice Dumpling and Novel ‘Nonya’ Spicy Pork Rice Dumpling are ones to savour, with incredibly juicy Spanish Duroc pork at its core. If that’s not enough, feast on the Specially Curated Rice Dumpling Gift Set (Premium Abalone Rice Dumpling, Pork with Conpoy and Chestnut Rice Dumpling, Red Bean Paste Rice Dumpling, Novel ‘Nonya’ Spicy Pork Rice Dumpling, Homemade Spicy Dried Shrimp Paste), perfect for gatherings both small and large.

Thye Moh Chan

Slow-cooked for over two-and-a-half hours, Thye Moh Chang’s rice dumplings achieve the perfect aroma and plumpness of rice coated with the flavours of juicy pork fat stuffing. The Teochew Double Delight Bak Chang is one for the sweet-and-savoury purist, with its generous amount of pork belly slices and shiitake mushrooms braised in five-spice powder, coriander powder and pepper, and balanced with a touch of Thye Moh Chan’s homemade sweet tau sar paste.

Si Chuan Dou Hua

Thinking of jazzing up your regular rice dumpling? Choose the Traditional Cantonese Brown Rice Dumpling with Wagyu Beef, a savoury medley of prized American wagyu, glutinous rice, brown rice, green bean and garlic. Wrapped in bamboo leaves, the dumpling is simmered for over three hours to accentuate the flavours of its melt-in-the-mouth star-ingredient. For a sweet end to your dinner, ask for the Chilled Sago Dumpling with Purple Potato, Red Bean and Lychee, a visual feast showcasing shades of green and purple, complementing the creamy filling and delicate lychee fragrance.

Wan Hao

Trying to be a little healthier? The Chinese Rice Wine Salt-Baked Chicken Rice Dumpling might be your favourite. It features a local spin on salt-baked chicken brined with nourishing ingredients including Chinese wine and dry ginger powder. Also worth trying is the all-new Abalone with Karasumi & Conpoy Rice Dumpling that’s built on gastronomic gold. Locally inspired crowd favourites, such as a pork and salted egg creation and the white pepper crab dumpling are also available.

Yì by Jereme Leung

Yì by Jereme Leung once again serves up the best of sweet and savoury dumplings. The savoury Abalone Jinhua Ham Glutinous Rice Dumpling is jam-packed with tasty ingredients, including 12-head abalone, Jinhua ham, Japanese dried scallops, pork belly and chestnuts. Meanwhile, the sweet variety is infused with delicate notes of butterfly pea flower, and features a scoop of Raffles Signature Kaya Jam at its core.

Main image (top): Joo Chiat Kim Choo