Final answer:
Traditional Chinese desserts often linked to festivals include zongzi, sticky rice cakes, and jiandui. These desserts showcase the rich culinary heritage of China with a combination of sweet and savory flavors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main answer to the student's question about traditional Chinese desserts can be drawn from a description of foods associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival. The festival includes the consumption of zongzi, which are sticky rice dumplings with various fillings, wrapped in bamboo leaves. This festival food is integral to the ritual events of the celebration. Additional traditional desserts during festivals and in Chinese cuisine include sticky rice cakes, which are similar to the New Year cake mentioned, and jiandui, a dessert comparable to the sesame ball described on page 71 according to the context provided.
It is also noteworthy that pancake-style treats are common, as indicated by the references to pancakes with fillings and the red bean pancake. These desserts collectively reflect the rich culinary heritage of China, often tied to festivals, and showcasing a variety of sweet and savory flavors using ingredients such as rice, beans, and sesame seeds.