Ha Thach Ear-shaped Cake

From a simple, traditional cake that has been closely associated with the lives of the people of Phu Tho town in particular and the people of the ancestral land in general for many years, the "tai" cake has become a specialty, bearing OCOP labels and stars, opening up many new opportunities and leaving an increasingly strong impression on consumers.

After shaping, the ear-shaped cakes are neatly arranged on trays before being placed in a steamer to cook.

The noodle and cake production business of the Ha Thach Noodle and Cake Production Cooperative (Ngoc Thap area, Ha Thach commune, Phu Tho town) has a long history. The cooperative's products are diverse and abundant, including noodles and various delicious traditional cakes that are loved by many, such as: sticky rice cakes (Banh Chung), steamed rice cakes (Banh Giay), ear-shaped cakes (Banh Tai), pork sausage cakes (Banh Gio), and cylindrical cakes (Banh Te)... Currently, the cooperative has 7 households participating in the production of ear-shaped cakes. Visiting the cooperative and learning firsthand about the cake-making process, one can better understand the hard work, love, and passion for this specialty cake of the local people.

Unlike other cooperatives, the Ha Thach vermicelli and rice cake production cooperative mainly operates at night. From 1 AM, the households begin their work, and by 3:30 AM, the first batch of rice cakes is ready to be delivered to traders who then distribute them to markets, shops, and retail outlets for people to eat for breakfast. Rice cakes are made from high-quality, sticky rice, soaked in water for 3-5 hours before being ground into flour. The fragrant rice, the smooth flour, and the fresh cakes ensure the distinctive flavor.

Ha Thach's ear-shaped cakes have long been a popular local specialty enjoyed by many.

Before making the dough, the filling is usually prepared first, consisting of finely ground pork (two parts lean to one part fat), finely chopped shallots, mixed with pepper and fish sauce to taste. Previously, the ground rice flour was often kneaded, boiled, pounded, and fluffed by hand, a rather complicated and time-consuming process.

Currently, many families in the cooperative have boldly invested in flour-mixing machines, saving a lot of time and effort and increasing productivity many times over. After grinding, the rice flour is put into the machine and mixed for about 15 minutes until it is 80% cooked, then divided into small portions to make the cake shells. The shaping process for the ear-shaped cakes is also very important.

The bakers must skillfully place the filling into pre-shaped balls of dough, then fold them into ear-like shapes, but do so carefully so that the outer layer doesn't separate when steamed. After shaping, the cakes are neatly arranged on trays and steamed in a steamer for about 40 minutes until cooked. On average, each household in the Ha Thach noodle and cake production cooperative produces about 3,000 ear-shaped cakes per day, selling them all as soon as they're made.

Despite the late nights and early mornings required, the craft of making "bánh tai" (ear-shaped rice cakes) in Hà Thạch has thrived for generations. The attractive white "bánh tai," with its fragrant aroma of fresh rice and rich, creamy filling, is delicious when served with a spicy dipping sauce that is both tasty and not at all cloying. Because of its unique yet familiar flavor and preparation method, many families and restaurants choose "bánh tai" for parties and weddings, considering it both elegant and appealing.

With the desire to preserve and build the brand of Ha Thach rice noodle rolls, increase economic value, and improve income for its members, in 2023, the Ha Thach Rice Noodle and Cake Production Cooperative completed the processes to submit its rice noodle rolls to the provincial-level OCOP product evaluation and classification program and achieved OCOP 3-star standard.

Mr. Nguyen Doanh Hieu, Director of the Cooperative, said: “The OCOP certification of our 'tai' cakes has opened up opportunities for the Cooperative to build and affirm its brand in the market, improve sales, and motivate us to continue raising the quality and bringing highly competitive products to the market. In the future, the Cooperative will continue to work with member households to improve production techniques and invest in more modern equipment to enhance processing efficiency, thereby expanding the market for 'tai' cakes and contributing to preserving and promoting the unique culinary culture of our centuries-old town.”

Phan Uyen

Source: https://baophutho.vn/banh-tai-ha-thach-220293.htm