Dongfang rice cake

A photo of the tasty rice cakes in Dongfang. [Photo/Hainan Daily]

The white rice cake, or what locals call "bua", is one of the most distinctive and well-known delicacies in Dongfang, Hainan.

The rice cakes are made of fresh rice milk, which is added and steamed in three times to form three layers. The third layer is combined with a natural alkali made from plant ash to form a golden yellow surface, making the snack very appealing for its color alone.

According to Gao Haifeng, owner of a famous restaurant in Dongfang which sells a variety of delicacies, the rice cakes were first made by fishermen's families as a daily ration when they were working.

People in Dongfang, when eating rice cakes, sprinkle a layer of garlic oil on them, and match it with homemade sweet vinegar.

Brown sugar, banana peels, roasted sweet potatoes and other ingredients have been used to make these sweet vinegars, which are an indispensable pairing with the white rice cakes, said Gao, who added that the sweet vinegar used in the restaurant is made by his mother.

People in Dongfang nowadays will eat a bowl of rice cakes when they don't feel like eating anything. They will also have rice cakes on their birthdays. The distinctive delicacy is indispensable for weddings parties or memorial ceremonies as well.