Hechi's eight-treasure rice pudding has long history

Huaiyuan town in Yizhou district, Hechi, has a long history, and one of its characteristic foods is its eight-treasure rice pudding (ba bao fan).

The name comes from the eight different kinds of dried fruits that are considered as key ingredients for the dish. In the Chinese culture, eight is a magical number. When pronounced, the word sounds like the Chinese word "fa", which means to be rich or to thrive in business. Also, as this dessert is colorful and pretty, it has come to represent good luck and sweetness for the new year.

The ingredients for Huaiyuan eight-treasure rice pudding are particular, using only high-quality glutinous rice from the surrounding area, red dates, wolfberries, barbecued pork, winter melon sugar, lotus seeds, green fruits, melons, and raisins, among other the ingredients.

Making sweet eight-treasure rice pudding has become an important local tradition for residents.

Wei Xiuxin is the inheritor of this traditional skill. She is strict in selecting ingredients and is careful when preparing ingredients. Wei is always meticulous when making this local delicacy.

Wei's eight-treasure rice pudding has become famous and has won many awards in Guangxi, which promotes the inheritance and development of this traditional skill.

Huaiyuan eight-treasure rice pudding. [Photo/Hechi Daily]