According to the elders, the craft of making bánh ít lá gai (a type of Vietnamese rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves) has existed in the village for a long time. Over time, this craft has continued to exist and develop. Bánh ít lá gai is sold daily at Thuận Market – a village market that also sells local specialties. The old Thuận Market was located in the area bordering three villages: Vệ Nghĩa (Triệu Long), Đại Hào (Triệu Đại), and Phúc Lộc (Triệu Thuận), about 1km west of Provincial Road 64 in the former Triệu Phong district.
According to Dương Văn An's "Ô Châu cận lục," Thuận Market is located "on the border of the two districts of Hải Lăng and Vũ Xương. From the main river on the southwest side, a smaller river flows in." The "main river" here refers to the Thạch Hãn river system, and the "smaller river" is the Thuận stream. The Thuận stream is an important tributary in the Thạch Hãn-Vĩnh Định river system, originating in Đại Lộc, winding through the Triệu Phong fields before passing through the market area.
Through the vicissitudes of history, the ancient traces have faded with time, but it is known that this place was once a bustling center of trade by both water and land. This was a rural market, which in the past concentrated many specialty goods from neighboring regions.
Nowadays, Thuan Market also sells agricultural products, along with various kinds of fish, shrimp, and crabs from the Thach Han River, harvested year-round and brought to the market. Among these goods, the cake associated with the local people that is always mentioned is the thorn leaf-wrapped glutinous rice cake.
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| A corner of Thuan Market - Photo: ND |
The reason why the glutinous rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves here is famous is because the product has a long history, especially because of its fragrant, delicious, and soft texture. With diligence and hard work, the people have learned to utilize glutinous rice to create this rustic cake, closely associated with the countryside and the people here. Therefore, making each cake is not too difficult, but requires meticulous attention to detail in every step. From the filling and glutinous rice flour to the thorny leaves, everything is carefully selected and mixed in the right proportions to create the sweetness of sugar, the nutty flavor of mung beans, the spicy kick of ginger, and the chewy texture of glutinous rice flour.
All the ingredients are wrapped in green banana leaves and then steamed until cooked. Through these steps and the skillful hands of the bakers, the glutinous rice cakes wrapped in thorny leaves are created, imbued with a sweet flavor blended with the aroma of freshly harvested rice from the homeland.
Mr. Pham Viem, a baker with 20 years of experience in Dai Hao village, shared: "The process is simple, but experience is needed to make fragrant, chewy rice cakes. On average, we make 500-700 cakes a day. Thanks to this profession, my family has extra income to support our children's education."
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| Villagers from Dai Hao sell sticky rice cakes wrapped in thorny leaves at Thuan market - Photo: ND |
Currently, there are 30 households in Dai Hao village making banh it la gai (sticky rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves). Besides farming, making these cakes is their main occupation, helping them develop their family's economy . Notably, the banh it la gai from Dai Hao village has received OCOP 3-star certification, and the product is not only sold within the commune but also in markets inside and outside the province. Therefore, the number of banh it la gai makers is increasing. "Previously, we made an average of over 500 cakes a day, but now we make 1,500-2,000 cakes a day," added Ms. Le Thi Trang from Dai Hao village.
Thanks to its delicious, chewy, and sweet flavor, the sticky rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves from this rural area is becoming increasingly well-known and available in many places. This is a positive sign for the people of Dai Hao, allowing them to both preserve and develop their traditional craft.
Mr. Tran Thien Phong, Head of the Economic Department of Trieu Binh Commune People's Committee, said: "Currently, Dai Hao's thorn leaf-wrapped rice cakes have already established a brand. The commune will continue to support in connecting product consumption, and at the same time assist people in implementing production processes and ensuring food safety and hygiene so that the products brought to market meet quality standards."
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| The craft of making bánh ít lá gai (a type of Vietnamese rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves) - Photo: ND |
In the hustle and bustle of the market, modern consumers not only buy products but also want to "hear" the story of the origin, culture, and people of the land that produces them. When a product is told through the language of culture, it touches emotions, evokes pride, and creates lasting value. The story of the "bánh ít lá gai" (sticky rice cake wrapped in thorny leaves) associated with Thuan Market and the OCOP (One Commune One Product) brand has helped the people of Dai Hao village overcome difficulties in finding outlets for their products.
In the late afternoon, as the sun sets, people rush back from their fields and gardens to prepare a new batch of rice cakes in time for the morning market. It's a simple task repeated daily, yet it has nurtured countless generations of villagers, helping many families stabilize their lives and enabling their children to receive a good education. Therefore, for many, making rice cakes wrapped in thorny leaves is not simply a profession, but a beautiful cultural tradition that needs to be preserved and passed down.
Ngoc Diep
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202607/banh-it-cho-lang-65b0875/
