Wedding cake

Phu the cake symbolizes the strong love between husband and wife: The layer of coconut leaves wrapped around the cake symbolizes the protection and care for each other. The leaves are twisted in the shape of yin and yang, with the sticky filling, symbolizing harmony, fertility, and many children and grandchildren. The cake shell is made from transparent tapioca flour, "embracing" the green bean and coconut filling, representing the bond, unity, and always standing side by side despite difficulties. The cake has a sweet taste and bright colors, a blessing, wishing the young couple a happy life, filled with laughter.

Phu the cake originated from the North, then "went" to Hue . In the past, the cake was used to pay tribute to the king, then gradually spread widely among the people. Hue phu the cake has many differences, variations to suit the tastes of Hue people and the available ingredients here. The cake is wrapped in coconut leaves, forming a unique square or pentagonal shape, while Northern phu the cakes are also wrapped in dong leaves or covered with transparent plastic. Hue phu the cake is made from tapioca starch, Northern cakes are made from sticky rice. In addition to mung beans and coconut fibers, Hue phu the cake also has shredded carrot fibers. Hue cakes are sweet and light; Northern cakes are sweeter and more fatty.

The appearance of the phu the cake is impressive from the beginning. The artisans of Hue are very skillful in wrapping the cake, creating beautiful shapes that only need to be fixed with a small toothpick. Sometimes I accidentally let the cake crust come off a little, and it cannot be wrapped as beautifully as before. On the phu the cake tray to welcome the bride, Hue people often add the Chinese character "joy", as if wishing for good luck and good things to come to the young couple. The more elaborate and beautiful the cake tray is, the more it shows the sincerity and affection of the groom's family.

The cake is made from tapioca flour so it is transparent, allowing you to see the green bean filling and the unique winding coconut and carrot fibers. The cake is so beautiful that when I was a child, whenever I was given it as a gift, I didn't rush to eat it right away. I had to admire it for a while, peeling it carefully to keep its "fullness". The cake has a faint, refreshing aroma of coconut leaves mixed with green beans, as gentle as a cool breeze in the middle of autumn. Tapioca flour blends very skillfully with the sweet, sticky taste of green beans, adding coconut fibers and crunchy carrot fibers makes it even more delicious. Phu The cake in Hue is just sweet enough, not too harsh, like a gentle beginning to a love story. Although the cake does not originate from the ancient capital, with its delicate and creative variations, Phu The cake still has a place in the rich culinary treasure of the Than Kinh land.

Article and photos: Thuc Dan