Symphony of Ha Nhi flavors

For the Ha Nhi people, food is not only a need to nourish the body but also a way to harmonize with nature. In the small kitchen of the square house with earthen walls, the red fire is always bright, keeping the whole family warm, and at the same time, it is also the place to prepare delicious dishes with the rich flavor of the mountains and forests.

The Ha Nhi people often prepare dishes from available ingredients: yams on the mountain fields, fern growing by streams, forest leaves in the garden, or black chickens free-range around the house. It is this closeness that creates a unique identity for Ha Nhi cuisine - both rustic and sophisticated. Dishes with typical flavors have become the "business card" of the Ha Nhi people. Smoked pork with the strong aroma of smoke, the salty taste mixed with a little spiciness of pickled chili, a little spiciness of ginger... Black chicken cooked with forest leaf soup - a nutritious dish and a valuable folk remedy. Fern stir-fried with garlic, simple but leaves an unforgettable refreshing aftertaste. In particular, there is a drink with the very impressive name "Ha Nhi beer" - a fermented drink from rice and wild tamarind leaves - not only rich in nutrients but also imbued with cultural colors.

During Tet or festivals, Ha Nhi cuisine reveals their philosophy of life even more clearly. Their food trays are arranged in a balanced, harmonious color, not only to satisfy the taste buds but also to show respect to ancestors and hospitality to friends from afar. The sweet taste of wild vegetables, the mild sourness of wild fruits, the spiciness of pickled chili, the richness of local pork... blend together to create a unique symphony of flavors. Each dish and each spice is carefully selected by the Ha Nhi people to convey a message of abundance, solidarity and gratitude. Cuisine for the Ha Nhi people, therefore, is not just a meal, but a unique cultural feature, a link connecting generations in the community.

During our visit to Choan Then village, Y Ty commune, where the Ha Nhi ethnic people live, we were lucky to join Ly Thi Mai - a Ha Nhi bride - in the kitchen to prepare a meal to welcome guests. Stepping into the small kitchen, the aroma of forest leaves mixed with the smoke from the kitchen made people feel elated. That day's meal was a complete crystallization of the spirit of the mountains and forests: from leafy vegetables hastily picked from the garden, a pot of black chicken soup cooked with the sweet aroma of forest leaves, to a plate of square-cut smoked pork. In particular, the fermented chili - an indispensable spice in the Ha Nhi kitchen - made the dish more aromatic, both spicy and slightly sour, as if awakening all the senses.

Ms. Mai was busy preparing and smiling as she shared: For the Ha Nhi people, cooking is a joy, a responsibility and also a happiness. The daughter-in-law always stands in the kitchen, preparing everything from firewood to every ingredient. Because the meal is not only for eating but also shows hospitality and respect.

In the flickering firelight, the welcoming tray is arranged in a balanced and harmonious arrangement of dishes, both rustic and formal. That space makes diners clearly feel that Ha Nhi cuisine is a part of the soul of the village.

The Ha Nhi people often prepare stewed chicken soup in pumpkins when entertaining distinguished guests. This dish requires great care and meticulousness. They choose native black chickens with firm, fragrant meat, and pumpkins that are not too old, with golden yellow insides and natural sweetness. It takes the cook half a day to prepare: preparing the chicken, hollowing out the pumpkin, marinating it with spices, then adding the chicken and various forest leaves, and simmering it over the fire. When the pumpkin is soft and cooked, the sweetness of the chicken blends with the fresh scent of forest leaves and the richness of the pumpkin, creating a dish that is both beautiful and delicious. Chicken soup in pumpkins is not only a culinary specialty but also a testament to the ingenuity, sophistication and hospitality of the Ha Nhi people.

For the Ha Nhi people, the hearth is the center of the house. There, the daughter-in-law diligently cooks, the children chatter and gather around, and the elderly leisurely sip Ha Nhi beer. The fire not only lights up the house but also keeps the fire of love and culture alive.

Cooking - therefore, is not simply a housework. It is a responsibility, a pride, a way for each Ha Nhi person to express their love for their family and community. Through each meal, cultural values are preserved and passed down from generation to generation. From meals to cultural identity, Ha Nhi cuisine is a delicate combination of nature and human hands. It is the flavor of the mountains and forests, the love of labor, the close bond between people and the earth and sky.

In daily meals or on the festival tray, we can see the presence of a simple but profound philosophy of life: living in harmony, respecting nature, and connecting with the community. In the midst of modern life, the dishes of the Ha Nhi people still retain their original soul, creating an attraction that every visitor from afar, once enjoying it, will remember forever.

Enjoying the cuisine of the Ha Nhi people is not only a taste experience, but also a cultural experience, a journey to discover the simple yet sophisticated, rustic yet profound soul - the cultural beauty of the people in the great Y Ty mountains.

Presented by: Bich Hue

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ban-giao-huong-huong-vi-ha-nhi-post884048.html