Traditional cakes with the flavors of Tet.

In a small kitchen steeped in history, the family of Mrs. Pham Thi Mau in Buu II hamlet (Dong Hai commune) still keeps the flame of traditional folk cake-making alive amidst modern life. The delicious aroma of Mrs. Mau's traditional cakes is renowned far and wide and is favored by consumers.

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I love my job so much!

In Buu II hamlet, we met Mrs. Mau, perhaps the only person in the area still dedicated to the traditional craft of making folk cakes. Outside, the midday sun of the countryside was scorching, but inside her small house, the steamer still burned brightly, radiating a familiar warmth.

Her hands, marked by time but still nimble, Mrs. Mau quickly mixed the dough, preparing a batch of delicious, rich coconut milk rice cakes to deliver to customers on time.

“ I’ve been making cakes for almost 20 years now. This job is tough; it requires staying up late, waking up early, and demanding meticulous attention to detail in every step, but I love it very much. Partly because it’s for my family’s income, and partly because traditional cakes are a cultural feature of our village from the past. As long as I have the strength, I will continue to make them, to preserve the craft and the soul of my hometown, ” Mrs. Mau confided.

Mrs. Mau's family's coconut milk rice cakes are famous for their delicious aroma and taste, and are ordered by customers from all over.

At 75, Mrs. Mau hasn't thought about retiring. Every day, her bakery still burns brightly, producing familiar-tasting cakes that are unforgettable for anyone who has ever tried them: coconut milk rice cakes, baked cassava cakes, steamed banana cakes, leaf-wrapped cakes... According to her, the most important step in making delicious cakes is preparing the dough; the baker must put their heart into each cake, not chasing after quantity for profit.

Today, to meet the demands of diners, Ms. Mau has given a "new look" to traditional cakes that are an indispensable part of Southern Vietnamese folk cuisine . Not only does she add natural colors to make the cakes more visually appealing, but she also creates many new types of cakes with new flavors from traditional cakes such as pork skin rice cakes and sticky rice rolls with mung bean filling.

Ms. Nguyen Kim Nga, Mrs. Mau's daughter, considers baking a traditional family profession.

With quality as her top priority and a constant pursuit of innovation in her creations, Mrs. Mau's cakes are not only sold within Dong Hai commune but have also reached various locations throughout the province. Mrs. Mau said: "People learn about my cakes through word-of-mouth recommendations after tasting them. Customers from far away often order cakes for family gatherings or parties. The whole family has to stay up all night making cakes to ensure timely delivery."

The descendants continue to carry on the craft.

What impressed us was not only the baker's love for her craft in her twilight years, but also the enduring continuation of the family tradition. The baking profession at Mrs. Mau's house is not limited to one generation. From daughters to sons-in-law, from youngest grandchildren to oldest, everyone knows and can participate in every step of the baking process.

Mr. Le Van Su, Mrs. Mau's son-in-law, skillfully makes sticky rice rolls.

In the kitchen, Mr. Le Van Su, Mrs. Mau's third son-in-law, nimbly poured the dough into molds, his movements as skillful as a seasoned baker's. Particularly impressive was his technique for rolling sticky rice; in just a moment, he completed a neat and beautiful three-layered roll without a mold, leaving onlookers in awe.

Besides traditional cakes, Mrs. Mau's family has also created many new dishes to meet consumer tastes, such as pandan leaf jelly, coffee-filled jelly, various types of sweet soups, and flavored sticky rice... creating a rich variety while still preserving the essence of folk cuisine.

Mrs. Mau both makes cakes and passes on her skills to her daughter.

Sharing their reasons for sticking with the craft amidst countless choices in modern life, Mrs. Mau's children said that making cakes is not only a livelihood but also a family tradition. Moreover, although the market is increasingly diverse, traditional cakes still hold a special place because of their simple, genuine flavor that is hard to replace.

Trung Kien

Source: https://baocamau.vn/banh-dan-gian-hoa-vi-tet-a126337.html