A wild plant with leaves as big as a palm; people in Guangdong use it to wrap zongzi, and it is simply superb
As the saying goes, "Grain in Ear draws near, and farm work gets busy," and today is exactly Grain in Ear, the third solar term of summer. Many farmer friends are also incredibly busy, harvesting what needs to be harvested and sowing what needs to be sown. After Grain in Ear, another major traditional festival in our country, the Dragon Boat Festival, is also approaching. When talking about the Dragon Boat Festival, zongzi are indispensable, and in recent years all kinds of flavored zongzi have appeared online. But if we are talking about the most unusual zongzi, this author thinks it is a kind of zongzi in the south called "halao leaf pork zongzi."
In rural areas of southern China, there is such an unusual wild plant. Its leaves are broad and thick, shaped like a palm, and its inflorescence and fruit resemble corn. Especially after it matures, it is simply a mini version of corn. This wild plant is "jiaju," also called halao, jialou, shanlou, and so on.
Many friends have never seen this wild plant jiaju, because it is only distributed in rural areas of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou, and other places in southern China, and it also grows under forest trees and in some damp places. Generally, only farmer friends know it.
But do not be fooled by jiaju's unusual appearance; its value is not small, and it is deeply loved by local farmer friends. So what values does it have?
The first is that the whole plant, roots, leaves, or fruit of jiaju can all be used as medicine. As medicine, it has the effects of warming the middle and dispersing cold, dispelling wind and draining dampness, and reducing swelling and relieving pain. It can be used to treat symptoms such as cold pain in the stomach and intestines with hiccups, pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, diarrhea, wind-cold cough, edema, malaria, toothache, rheumatic bone pain, and traumatic injuries.
Among these, its roots can treat rheumatic bone pain, traumatic injuries, wind-cold cough, and edema during pregnancy and after childbirth, while its corn-like fruit can treat toothache, stomachache, abdominal bloating, poor appetite, and so on. Chewing 2 fruits can produce an effect in treating toothache.
However, compared with the medicinal value of jiaju, its edible value is actually what local farmer friends like most.
Especially as the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, farmer friends in rural areas of Guangdong and Guangxi all go out to pick jiaju leaves and bring them back. Picking its leaves is not for treating illness, but for wrapping zongzi. Jiaju leaves for wrapping zongzi can be called the finest among zongzi, especially because people in Guangdong love to eat them.
Zongzi wrapped in jiaju leaves are also called "halao leaf pork zongzi." Zongzi wrapped with jiaju leaves can not only eliminate the greasiness of pork, but also neutralize the damp-heat of glutinous rice, clear heat toxin, and have dietary therapeutic effects for women in reducing dark spots, regulating the endocrine system, and replenishing blood and qi after childbirth.
In order to make "halao leaf pork zongzi," this author specially asked a friend in Guangdong to send some jiaju leaves over. Take an appropriate amount of pork and jiaju leaves, cut the pork and mix it with seasonings, wrap it together with glutinous rice into the jiaju leaves, and then steam it cooked. This author tasted it. Although it was the first time making this "special" kind of zongzi, the presentation was not good, but the taste was very good, and it also carried a special fragrance of jiaju leaves. So friends, do not miss this special kind of zongzi; if you have the chance, you must try it!
Author's note: A farmer friend in Guangdong told this author that jiaju leaves can not only be used to wrap zongzi, but can also be used for soup, stir-fried river snails, and beef patties, all of which are very delicious.
Friends, do you know about this wild plant "jiaju"? Have you eaten zongzi wrapped in jiaju leaves? Welcome to leave comments and share!