Glutinous rice is coated in a faint yellow color after being soaked in straw ash water for about three hours. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Huitang Zongzi is a "secret" recipe preserved by residents of Yaokou village, Fuyang district, Hangzhou for several centuries.

The "secret" lies in putting some straw ash in a container wrapped in gauze and then "brewing" it with boiled water. Glutinous rice, the main ingredient of the dumpling, is soaked in the water for about three hours, until its surface is coated in a faint yellow color. The rice is then washed, made into dumplings, and cooked thoroughly in a large wood-fired oven, which is commonly seen in rural areas as it can bring out a better taste and aroma than electric cookers. The glutinous rice will turn golden brown after being cooked for 7-8 hours.

Experienced local women can make 1,000 such dumplings per day, and the specialty has brought the remote village a generous income, as the food is coveted by people from surrounding areas.

Experienced local women can make 1,000 dumplings per day. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]