Pressed Ciba, a Tujia Snack for the Spring Festival

In Southern China, people have a long-held tradition of making Ciba (glutinous rice cakes) for the Spring Festival, and among them, the rice cakes of the Tujia Minorities are quite typical.As the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, locals in the western Hubei town of Enshi Tujia, as well as Miao Autonomous Prefecture, are hand making glutinous rice cakes, especially the “pressed glutinous rice cakes” made with specially-designed moulds.This traditional dim sum, with auspicious patterns and blessing lines on it, are intentionally prepared to welcome the upcoming festival.

Local “pressed glutinous rice cakes” are made from sticky rice, sorghum, and millet.The soaked grains are steamed in a rice steamer, kneaded into lumps, and later compressed into shapes and patterns.These roundshaped rice cakes can be deep-fried, baked, fried, or boiled, resembling a united family.These rice cakes are the traditional treats of local minorities, including the Tujias, Miaos, and Dongs, and are also well-known souvenirs for both tourists and bestsellers online.Besides the implied and symbolic value, their popularity can also be attributed to the refreshing rice fragrance, the chewy consistency, and the mild sweetness—they are not only meaningful, they are delicious!

1.Villagers gather together, crushing steamed sticky rice in a stone-made receptacle.

2.The crushed sticky rice is kneaded into lumps.

3.The sticky rice lumps are put into moulds.Pretty “pressed glutinous rice cakes” are freshly made.

4.Pressed glutinous rice cakes with auspicious patterns on them.

5.When cooked over charcoal, the glutinous rice cakes emit a strong fragrance.

(Translation: Zhang Chengyi)

1.村民們聚集在一起，將蒸熟的糯米放在石槽里搗碎。

2.將搗碎的糯米團成團。

印花糍粑香 土家年味來

文/徐敏 圖/宋文

中國南方一直有著打糍粑、迎新春的習俗，而其中，當屬土家族人民打出的糍粑最具代表性。春節漸近，地處湖北省西部山區的恩施土家族苗族自治州各地農民開始手工制作糍粑，并用特制的模具制作帶有吉祥圖案和祝福語言的印花糍粑，為過年準備傳統美食。

3.將搗成泥狀的糯米放入模具，漂亮的印花糍粑出爐。

4.帶有吉祥圖案的印花糍粑。

5.炭火簡單烘烤后，糍粑香氣撲鼻。

當地印花糍粑以糯米、高粱、小米等為原料，浸泡后放入木甑蒸熟，并在石槽里搗成泥狀，揉捏成團，經壓制而成。可炸、可烤、可煎、可煮的圓形印花糍粑象征春節團團圓圓，是當地土家族、苗族、侗族等少數民族群眾過年必備的傳統食品，并已成為游客追捧、網絡熱銷的旅游食品。個中原因，除了糍粑的美好寓意之外，也與它自身的清新米香與清甜爽口有關。