Bundle of plants used by Zhuang minority to dye sticky rice five natural colors: maple-leaf herb (black), dragon-blood tree / hong lan cao (red), mi mi flower / huangfan (yellow), purple-leaf grass (purple).
Where it comes from
Guangxi (Zhuang minority); annual March 3 festival (sanyuesan) and Qingming.
In the kitchen
Boil each plant separately, soak rice in the colored water, then steam — gives natural color + faint medicinal aroma.
Across cuisines
The Chinese dye plant mix is a bundle of plants used by the Zhuang minority to dye sticky rice in five natural colors. The plants include maple-leaf herb for black, dragon-blood tree for red, and others for yellow, purple, and blue. This traditional method creates visually striking and culturally significant dishes.
