Xinyi Bunun glutinous rice cake is a traditional ceremonial offering essential to Bunun tribal rituals such as the Harvest Festival and the Ear-Shooting Festival, made by steaming round glutinous rice and repeatedly pounding it in a wooden mortar with a pestle until it becomes extremely chewy with a pure rice fragrance — traditionally without any sugar or oil. The pounding itself is part of the ceremony, and in Dongpu and Dili villages, tribal women still carry on this craft today, giving travelers a chance to taste the flavor of ceremony.
The Bunun people's grandest traditional ceremony is the Ear-Shooting Festival (Malahtangia in Bunun, meaning "shooting the deer's ear"), typically held between April and May each year — the exact timing varies by village elevation and the progress of millet-field weeding — when the chief calls together the tribe's male members at the ceremonial ground; traditionally, only men take part. Glutinous rice cake is one of the traditional offerings prepared for such ceremonial occasions.
What Is Bunun Glutinous Rice Cake
Traditional Bunun glutinous rice cake is made by pounding steamed round glutinous rice in a mortar, resulting in an extremely chewy texture and a pure rice fragrance; traditionally no sugar or oil is added, preserving the grain's natural flavor. Modern versions are mostly handmade by tribal women, with locally sourced ingredients such as peanut powder or red bean paste added for extra flavor, but the core remains the firm elasticity that comes from the pounding process — distinctly different from machine-made mochi. The shape is usually hand-pressed rounds or cut strips, and the surface is often coated in peanut powder to prevent sticking.
Xinyi Township Farmers' Association promotes indigenous agricultural specialties and includes tribal women's glutinous rice cakes at association distribution points, also arranging demonstrations during Xinyi Township tribal kitchen events. Non-regular supply is its defining characteristic — it is most readily available during the festive high season (around November autumn harvest festivals) and Farmers' Association market events; on regular days, calling the Farmers' Association or the village in advance is needed to confirm whether fresh batches are available. Restaurants near the Dongpu hot spring area occasionally have it as well.
How to Eat Like a Local
Local Knowledge
Verified Sources
- Xinyi Township Farmers' Association includes Bunun glutinous rice food culture in its indigenous agricultural specialty promotion program, with official Farmers' Association activity records available for verification.
- The Nantou County Government Indigenous Peoples Administration Bureau documents traditional Bunun glutinous rice food culture and lists it as an important ethnic culinary heritage.
Visitor Tips
- Fresh-made glutinous rice cake supply is extremely unreliable outside festival periods; do not plan around it as a must-eat, and when visiting on regular days, confirm Farmers' Association activity schedules first.
- The texture difference between mortar-pounded handmade and machine-made versions is significant; when purchasing, ask about the preparation method to confirm whether it is hand-pounded.
- Shelf life is short (best consumed on the day); if the journey home takes more than 4 hours, refrigeration is recommended, as the texture noticeably declines by the following day.
Sources: Xinyi Township Farmers' Association Indigenous Agricultural Specialty Promotion Materials, Nantou County Government Indigenous Peoples Administration Bureau. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Bunun Ear-Shooting Festival held?
It is typically held between April and May each year, with the exact timing adjusted slightly depending on village elevation and the progress of millet-field weeding.
Can women take part in the Ear-Shooting Festival?
Traditionally, only male tribal members participate; women are not permitted to join this ceremony.
How can I check if handmade glutinous rice cake is available on a regular day?
Supply is unreliable outside festival periods, so it's best to call the Xinyi Township Farmers' Association or the village in advance to confirm whether a fresh batch is available.