If you are a "god of food", always want to discover all the culinary quintessence throughout the S-shaped strip of land, you should definitely not miss the specialties of Trung Khanh Cao Bang.
5 specialties of Chongqing Cao Bang everyone loves
1. Chongqing chestnuts
Chestnuts or almonds are a gift that is present a lot in the high mountains, but the most famous is the Chongqing chestnut. Perhaps due to the fertile land of Chongqing, it has produced a very unique chestnut flavor that cannot be found anywhere else, with a natural sweetness and passionate aroma.
This specialty food of Chongqing is usually quite large, the smallest seed must be the size of the tip of the big toe, the shell is hard, thick, has a characteristic glossy brown color and many spines like a rambutan. When separating the shell, you will see that inside the fruit there are about 3 to 4 seeds that are firm, soft and fresh.
Every seed is shiny
When roasted, the intestines will have an eye-catching yellow color, it is best eaten right when it is hot to feel the sweet, fleshy, soft and fragrant taste. Or you can also simmer it with stewed pork leg or puree it to make a wonderful cake filling.
Inner intestine of golden nursery (Photo @haye.manulife)
In particular , this specialty of Chongqing Cao Bang only appears in the autumn around the 8th and 9th lunar month, and cannot be left for long. If you see them appearing year round, it means that the product has been injected with chemicals or is damaged. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to travel to Cao Bang this season, do not forget to buy it as a gift for your family and friends.
- How to choose delicious Chongqing chestnuts: Normally, chestnuts without preservatives after harvesting about 10 days will be damaged and have an unpleasant smell. So when buying, choose seeds with glossy shell, light brown color, fresh outer hair and slightly dark color. At the same time, shake the seeds gently, if there is no sound, it means that the seeds are new, the kernel is full and fresh, not shriveled.
- Prestigious buying address: Co Xau market at the foot of Phia Phu mountain, Trung Khanh district or Green market in Hop Giang ward, Cao Bang city, Cao Bang province.
- Reference price: about 50,000 VND / kg.
2. Thong Hue cake
Bread making is a traditional craft village in Cao Bang, so it is always considered a specialty of Cao Bang that is famous near and far. But few people know that the place where the most delicious cake originates and is made is Thong Hue commune, Trung Khanh district.
Each cake of Thong Hue is filled with many feats and passions of bakers, with more than 10 steps: from choosing rice, roasting rice, grinding flour, pounding sugar, filling, making shell, to delivering into the injection mold…so it's no surprise that it's always been a popular Chongqing Cao Bang specialty .
Square cakes
When you bite a piece of cake, the characteristic aroma of sticky rice flour melts in your mouth, adding the sweet taste of sugar, the flesh of roasted peanuts and sesame, and the greasy taste of fatty meat, all blended into a flavor. The homeland is rich and unforgettable. Especially when enjoying with a cup of hot tea, it can only be said that it is "a masterpiece".
Eating cake and drinking tea is a masterpiece
In particular, this Chongqing specialty is very difficult to stale and moldy, has a square appearance, when sold, it will be wrapped by eye-catching white paper by the craftsman, so it is very popular for making cakes or taking away gifts during holidays, Tet, especially Lunar New Year.
- Address to buy: shops at Thong Hue market or production facilities in Thong Hue commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province.
- Reference price: from 100,000 VND to 140,000 VND / 10 pieces.
3. Pancakes Phu
Banh Coong Phu or Thoong Phu, Phu Noong is a familiar dish of the Tay and Nung people in Trung Khanh in particular and Cao Bang in general. It is quite similar to the dish of the lowland people, because it is also made from fragrant sticky rice, rolled into round balls and dropped into boiling water.
However, this specialty of Trung Khanh Cao Bang has a more diverse filling, besides red sugar, people also make crushed roasted peanuts cooked with red sugar or pureed green beans mixed with white sugar. At the same time, the crust can also be kneaded with gac to produce an eye-catching red color.
The cake has an eye-catching gac fruit
The special feature of Coong Phu cake is that it is always placed in a pot of boiling sugary water on the stove, adding a few slices of fresh bed to create a characteristic aroma. When there are guests, the new owner scoops out a bowl, sprinkles a little more sesame and fresh copra to add more charm.
The sticky taste of glutinous rice flour mixed with the flesh of roasted peanuts and sesame, the sweetness of sugar and the spicy taste of ginger can dispel the cold of winter evenings in Cao Bang. Therefore, this famous specialty of Chongqing is always the unforgettable nostalgia of children far from home.
Delicious, hot and delicious pancakes
- Address: Mrs. Hop's cake shop on Hoang Van Thu street, Vuon Cam 2 street, Ms. Diep's shop at the corner of Ly Tu Trong street, or Ms. Nhu's shop at Green market, Hop Giang ward, Cao Bang city.
- Reference price: from 20,000 VND to 30,000 VND / bowl.
4. Agarwood Fish
Going to Cao Bang without enjoying Trung Khanh specialties - famous Agarwood fish near and far is indeed a huge omission. Having this unique name because they often eat the roots and rotten leaves of the agarwood tree growing along the river Quai So, Bac Vong, the meat has a characteristic agarwood flavor.
However, the best Tram Huong fish must be caught at the foot of Ban Gioc waterfall , because besides the aroma, the fish meat is also very firm. When baked, the aroma is spread very passionately. Even after washing the dishes, the scent of incense is still left.
Super delicious grilled agarwood fish
This Chongqing Cao Bang specialty is best when put in banana leaves and then grilled over charcoal, then dipped with pure fish sauce. But if you steam lemongrass and chili or make sour soup, you can still create irresistible delicious flavors.
Address to buy: Trung Khanh Market, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province.
5. Quang Han
Tangerine is not a strange fruit, but it is rare to say that it can produce large, beautiful, juicy, juicy and sweet tangerines like in Quang Han commune, Trung Khanh district. Especially, when it still has to grow in a land with a harsh cold climate like the mountains of Cao Bang in winter.
In each ripe tangerine season, from late November to January next year, the whole Chongqing district is immersed in the red and yellow colors of mandarin oranges, brightly lighting up a whole sky, so when visiting the In the garden, visitors can not only buy this famous fruit of Chongqing as a gift, but also feel free to check-in to buy impressive virtual live photos.
Fresh and juicy tangerines
- Address to buy: tangerine garden in Quang Han commune, Trung Khanh market or roadside stalls of Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province.
- Reference price: from 30,000 VND to 100,000 VND / kg.
After having fun, taking pictures for a lifetime without enjoying or buying super delicious Chongqing Cao Bang specialties as gifts, your trip will be very incomplete.