Xu Shen

Zongzi is a signature food of the Dragon Boat Festival and is much loved by people. Xu Shen's Sayings on the Interpretation of Chinese Characters from the Han Dynasty states: “Zong (zongzi) is glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves.” This indicates that at the time, reed leaves were primarily used for wrapping zongzi. In fact, with different customs and local products across regions, different leaves may have been used to wrap zongzi in various places south and north of the Yangtze River, such as the leaves of the Nandina, banana, lou, and lotus plants, which can be aptly described as “sticky rice remains, while the zongye varies.” What many do not know is that the zongye discarded after eating zongzi also has medicinal and health benefits. Reed Leaves Reed leaves are one of the oldest types of zongye, mainly distributed in areas such as North China, Northeast China, and the Two Lakes Region. Reed leaves are commonly used to wrap zongzi in northern regions and along the Yangtze River. After being boiled in water, reed-leaf-wrapped zongzi emit a unique fragrance, which can refresh one’s mood during the sultry weather of the Dragon Boat Festival. The "reed" mentioned in "The reeds…