It is almost Dragon Boat Festival season, and that means one very important thing: rice dumplings.
This year, Joo Chiat Kim Choo is bringing back its well-loved handcrafted rice dumplings, and they are not holding back on the fillings. The heritage brand promises dumplings that are “super ho liao, super shiok”, with ingredients packed all the way till the last bite.
Known as the Golden Pearl of Joo Chiat, Joo Chiat Kim Choo has long been loved for its traditional Chinese rice dumplings. For Dragon Boat Festival 2026, the brand is celebrating with classic favourites, premium creations, and gorgeous gift sets that are great for family, friends, and business partners.
Handmade Dumplings With An 80-Year-Old Recipe
These are not your average rice dumplings.
Each Joo Chiat Kim Choo rice dumpling is made using a guarded 80-year-old traditional recipe, with 22 ingredients and spices. The dumplings are also handwrapped by artisans, giving every triangular parcel that old-school, homemade feel.
The process is a serious labour of love. According to the brand, it takes over eight days and 21 steps to prepare the dumplings. Bamboo leaves are boiled, washed, soaked, and re-soaked before they are ready. The meat takes another two days to prepare, while the rice is washed, soaked, and drained before wrapping and steaming begins.
All that effort for something many of us will finish in 10 minutes. Worth it? Very likely.
Flavours To Try This Dragon Boat Festival
There is something for every kind of dumpling lover here.
For fans of the classic sweet-savoury Peranakan style, the Nyonya Rice Dumpling is a must-try. It comes with tender braised pork, winter melon strips, glutinous rice, and Joo Chiat Kim Choo’s secret spice blend.
There is also the Pulut Hitam Nyonya Rice Dumpling, a lower-calorie twist made with black glutinous rice, and the limited-quantity Blue Pea Nyonya Rice Dumpling, which gets its striking blue colour from natural blue pea flowers.
Those who prefer savoury dumplings can look out for the Hokkien Rice Dumpling with Salted Egg Yolk, packed with braised pork belly, chestnut, mushroom, and a golden salted egg centre.
Other dialect favourites include the Cantonese Bean Rice Dumpling, Teochew Rice Dumpling, and Hakka Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables Rice Dumpling.
The Premium One: Emperor’s Rice Dumpling
For something more atas, go for the Emperor’s Rice Dumpling.
This premium dumpling is filled with braised pork belly, dried scallops, Chinese lup cheong sausage, salted egg yolk, ginkgo nuts, chestnut, and shiitake mushroom. It is rich, savoury, and made for those who want a more luxurious Dragon Boat Festival treat.
Gift Sets For Family, Friends & Clients
Joo Chiat Kim Choo is also launching eight rice dumpling gift sets for Dragon Boat Festival 2026.
One highlight is the Five Royal Stars Gift Set, which features five flavours representing Singapore’s major Chinese dialect groups and the brand’s signature Peranakan style. The set includes Nyonya, Hokkien with Salted Egg Yolk, Teochew, Cantonese Bean, and Hakka Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables rice dumplings.
For smaller households, the Petite Treasures Gift Set comes in sweet and savoury versions. The sweet version includes five Kee Zhang with homemade kaya, while the savoury version includes Nyonya and Hokkien dumplings with hae bee hiam sambal.
Other festive sets include the Four Heavenly Kings Set, Signature Nyonya Bundle, Hokkien Golden Yolk Bundle, The Perfect Bundle, and the premium Emperor’s Heirloom Gift Set with six Emperor’s Rice Dumplings.
Where To Buy Joo Chiat Kim Choo Rice Dumplings
Joo Chiat Kim Choo’s Dragon Boat Festival rice dumplings are available at its headquarters, its flagship store at Blk 77 Circuit Road, #01-450, Singapore 370077, more than 30 pop-up stores islandwide, and its official website.
For the Circuit Road flagship store, Joo Chiat Kim Choo’s Instagram listing states special festive operating hours from 11 May to 6 June, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and 8 June to 21 June, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm.
Pop-Up Stores To Look Out For
There will be pop-ups across Singapore from May to June 2026, including locations such as Raffles Xchange, Century Square, Junction 8, White Sands, JEM, AMK Hub, Square 2, Causeway Point, West Mall, Waterway Point, Velocity, Takashimaya, Westgate, Lot One, Sun Plaza, Jurong Point, and Tiong Bahru.
So whether you are buying for yourself, your parents, your in-laws, or your whole office, there should be a location nearby.
Pro Tips Before You Buy
Pre-order early if you are eyeing the premium gift sets or limited flavours such as the Blue Pea Nyonya Rice Dumpling.
If you are gifting to older family members, the Five Royal Stars Gift Set is a safe and thoughtful pick because it includes a mix of traditional flavours. For something more impressive, go for the Emperor’s Heirloom Gift Set.
For personal snacking or smaller families, the Petite Treasures Gift Set is a good option, especially if you do not want to overbuy.
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