SINGAPORE – With two weeks to go until the Dragon Boat Festival on May 31, it is time to cast aside the low-carb diet and indulge in the seasonal treat of rice dumplings.

In 2025, trending Asian ingredients spice up the bamboo leaf-wrapped rice parcels – think kimchi, Sichuan peppercorns and sambal pork floss. 

Other newfangled creations pay homage to local dishes such as chicken satay, chilli crab and chicken rice. 

For those who like dessert-style dumplings, tuck into pyramids of sweetened purple rice dumplings, as well as kee chang (alkaline rice dumplings cooked in lye water) paired with kaya. 

Here is where to get the best of 2025’s wild and wonderful offerings. 

Heritage of Asia rice dumpling gift set

What: Enjoy a medley of Asian flavours in Shang Palace’s special bazhang gift set ($72.90 for six 130g dumplings), inspired by various Shangri-La properties. 

The new Thai green curry chicken rice dumpling is one for the adventurous, while the Hainanese chicken rice dumpling is a nod to the familiarity of home. 

Other savoury parcels include the luxurious Hometown Fujian-style rice dumpling with abalone, roasted pork, sea cucumber and dried shrimp, and sambal pork floss rice dumpling with salted egg yolk. 

On the sweet side, the set features an alkaline rice dumpling with rose petal and lychee, and sweetened purple rice dumpling with a lava-like custard centre.  

Where: Dragon Boat Festival booth, Tower Wing Lobby, Shangri-La Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road When: Till May 31 Info: Call 6213-4511 or order two days in advance by May 29 at bit.ly/DBF-2025 for delivery

Kimchi rice dumpling 

What: The star dumpling in 2025 at Cantonese restaurant Man Fu Yuan gets a South Korean twist. 

The kimchi rice dumpling ($23.80 nett) includes aged kimchi, Kurobuta cured meat and mushrooms. 

It is also part of two sets of five dumplings – perfect for gifting &ndas...