Quintessence of The Ancestral Land’s cuisine

The land of the ancient capital Van Lang associated with the era of Hung King’s founding of the country, Phu Tho has a unique, diverse culinary culture imbued with the identity of the The Ancestral Land. Over the years, rustic and rustic dishes from myths and legends to the daily lives of people in the midland region have flourished and spread strongly, becoming a part of daily life. and the unique culture of the heritage land.

Phu Tho cuisine has been introduced and promoted in association with developing tourism back to its roots.

Coming to Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district, a place famous for its traditional banh chung village in the last days of the year, the fragrance of rice mixed with the aroma of dong leaves spreads to every country road and alley. In Phu Tho, when talking about banh chung, people immediately think of Cat Tru banh chung village, Cam Khe district with its rich flavor made by traditional methods that are still maintained and preserved by the people as a priceless treasure. price. It is no coincidence that The Ancestral Land banh chung is one of three culinary dishes of Phu Tho certified as typical Vietnamese cuisine in phase I - 2022, under the Project “Building and developing Vietnamese culinary culture into National brand, period 2022 - 2024”.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Anh in Phu Cat area, the third generation to succeed in making Cat Tru traditional banh chung, shared: "The brand, The Ancestral Land banh chung, is deposited and crystallized over a long history, through the royal image. Lang Lieu’s son wrapped cakes to present to his father the King. Every year, Cat Tru Banh Chung Craft Village not only makes famous delicious banh chung but is also chosen as an offering on the occasion of Hung King’s death anniversary. Just like that from generation to generation, for Cat Tru people making banh chung is not only a way to make a living but more importantly a pride in a traditional profession associated with the legend “Banh chung, banh giay” Land of the Patriarchs.

The profession of making banh chung in Cam Khe district is certified as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Living together on the banks of the gentle Thao and Lo rivers, Phu Tho residents have for many generations created a unique and rich cuisine of the midland countryside. Traditional dishes are created by the hands of honest and rustic farmers, with ingredients from sticky rice and ordinary rice such as: Banh chung, banh giay, banh te, banh duc, and sweet soup. ..

These are all cakes that people prepare with reverence to offer to ancestors on holidays and New Year. In particular, the square banh chung and flat round banh giay symbolizing the earth and sky were cleverly and delicately created by Prince Lang Lieu from traditional ingredients and are considered a culinary heritage passed down from his father. he.

Many centuries ago, Muong people settled in the mountainous districts of Tan Son, Thanh Son, Yen Lap of the The Ancestral Land Midland region. When talking about the culinary characteristics as well as the productive labor of their people, the Muong people still have the saying: “Steamed rice, attic house, water to carry, pig to pig, day passes, month comes”, for ethnic people. Muong’s main occupation is agriculture, so sticky rice dishes and vegetables are indispensable.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai in Xuan An commune, Yen Lap district shared: "Blessed by nature and rich flora and fauna, it creates the basis for the birth of many delicious and rare products that are not found anywhere else." Also, the dishes of the Muong people are often prepared from available products, through the skillful hands of the people, they become specialties with typical flavors of the mountains and forests such as: Five-color sticky rice, sour meat. , braised chicken with bamboo shoots, stone moss, sticky rice... converge traditional values but still fit modern culinary trends."

Proud of the increasingly widespread image of The Ancestral Land cuisine, comrade Nguyen Duc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Culinary Culture Association said: "Last November, Phu Tho Tourism participated in the Tourism Village Festival Community of the Northwest provinces expanded in 2023, held in Hoa Binh province, culinary artisans of Tan Son district brought tools and ingredients to directly process and introduce dishes to the public. Specialties of Xuan Son mountains and forests. Many tourists admired and enjoyed enjoying and listening to us tell stories about the origin and meaning of the dishes...".

Each region of Phu Tho has its own traditional and characteristic dishes, all of which have created a culinary cultural treasure of the land of origin that is both diverse, unique, and timeless. . Not accounting for a large number like the Kinh and Muong ethnic groups, but the Dao and Cao Lan people also have their own unique dishes such as: Brown salad, chicken with many spurs, bird cake, canarium fruit... contributing to creating the rich and diverse culinary culture of the land of origin. Among them, the chicken with many spurs is a rare gift with characteristics of the midland region, appearing from the legend of Son Tinh - Thuy Tinh and the event of King Hung picking a son-in-law. Stepping out of legend, today this chicken breed is still nurtured and developed by the Dao ethnic people in the core area of Xuan Son National Park. They are revered and called “God’s Chicken” and have become a specialty of the The Ancestral Land. .

Ninh Giang