Introduction of Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls
Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls is a traditional food in Shanghai produced by the Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls Patisserie. The ingredient selection for the sticky rice balls is exquisite, with a focus on using sugar and using glutinous rice and japonica rice from regions such as Suzhou and Changzhou as the main ingredients. Pine nuts, melon seeds, sesame, red beans, and osmanthus are used as supplementary ingredients, and stone-ground flour is used. Different varieties have different ingredient proportions and are marketed according to the season.
Product Features of Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls
Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls has unique characteristics. First, the ingredients are carefully selected and used in moderation. The rice flour used to make the sticky rice balls is selected from high-quality, white-colored, and tough japonica rice and glutinous rice from Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and other regions. Pine nuts, melon seeds, sesame, and other supplementary ingredients are all of the highest quality, and the osmanthus used is fragrant Chen osmanthus. In addition, the production process is particularly careful. The stone-ground flour is finely ground, then the flour is pressed and drained, with a requirement for both drying and maintaining the rice flour softness. Different varieties have different ingredient proportions; generally, the sticky rice balls are made with 70% rice flour and 30% japonica rice flour, green sticky rice balls are made with 80% glutinous rice flour and 20% japonica rice flour, and sweet year cake is made purely with glutinous rice flour, giving each sticky rice ball a unique flavor.
History of Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls
Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls is known as the "King of Jiangnan Rice Dumplings" and was founded in Xianfeng Year 8 of the Qing Dynasty (1858) by Mr. Zhang Jinquan from Lanxi, Zhejiang, who used to work in cotton spinning. He initially sold rice dumplings at a stall in Haire Qiao Tu in Beida Street, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and later rented a storefront in Zhangjia Lane, the busiest area of Jiaxing, to open the first "Rongji Five Flowers Sticky Rice Balls" Patisserie. The name was derived from the five natural plants used in the production of the pastries, including roses, sesame, pine flowers, mint, and osmanthus.
