Sticky rice dumplings are selling so well that vendors can't keep up with the demand.
This morning (March 3rd in the lunar calendar), a survey conducted by the Industry and Trade Newspaper revealed a bustling atmosphere at many traditional cake shops in Hanoi . Vendors were busily shaping and packaging cakes, while customers continuously came and went, choosing their purchases.
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Customers buy glutinous rice balls and vegetarian cakes at Nghia Tan market (Cau Giay, Hanoi). Photo: Le Van. |
Holding a bag of glutinous rice balls she had just bought at Vu Thanh Market (Dong Da District, Hanoi), Ms. Diem Huong happily said: " Every year I come here to buy traditional glutinous rice balls and vegetarian cakes to offer to my ancestors !"
Ms. Duong Thi Luong, a long-time seller of glutinous rice dumplings at Vu Thanh market, happily said while packing dumplings for customers: " Every day, I sell about 150-200 boxes, on peak days it can reach 300 boxes. Many customers are busy and don't have time to make them themselves, so they buy ready-made dumplings for convenience during religious ceremonies ."
Besides traditional glutinous rice balls, this year's market continues to offer many variations in shape and color, such as lotus flower and apricot blossom-shaped glutinous rice balls, providing customers with more choices. The price of this traditional type of rice ball remains fairly stable, not changing much compared to previous years.
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Ms. Huong buys glutinous rice balls at Ms. Luong's stall in Vu Thanh market (Dong Da district, Hanoi). Photo: Le Van |
Specifically, glutinous rice balls (bánh trôi) are sold for 15,000 - 25,000 VND per box of 15, while vegetarian glutinous rice balls (bánh chay) cost 20,000 VND per cup of 3. For shaped glutinous rice balls, the price ranges from 50,000 - 150,000 VND per set (before processing). However, most of these shaped glutinous rice balls are usually sold through social media or online shopping platforms.
The atmosphere at Nghia Tan market (Cau Giay, Hanoi) is equally bustling. With nimble hands, shaping each pristine white rice dumpling, Ms. Le Anh Tuyet, owner of a long-standing rice dumpling shop at Nghia Tan market, shared: “ Early in the morning, the number of customers buying rice dumplings is still sparse, however, from 8 am onwards, the number of customers has stabilized, similar to previous years .”
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Organic glutinous rice dumplings from the shop. Photo: Le Van |
Organic glutinous rice dumplings are attracting customers, and the healthy living trend is on the rise.
This year, organic glutinous rice dumplings are in high demand due to the rise of the healthy living trend. Beyond simply being healthy or made from organic ingredients, many producers have introduced glutinous rice dumplings made from brown rice flour, whole grain rice, or combined with vegetables like potato starch and purple sweet potato to increase nutritional content.
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan, an employee at a traditional cake shop in Ba Dinh, Hanoi, not only people interested in organic products, but also many families visit and choose these organic glutinous rice balls. " Organic glutinous rice balls are made from high-quality rice, the color comes from vegetables, no artificial coloring is used, and they are very good for health ," Mr. Tuan said.
According to Ms. Hoang Kieu Chinh (Hoang Mai, Hanoi), her family used to eat traditional glutinous rice balls, but after researching, she recently switched to organic ones because they are better for health. To avoid waiting, she always orders in advance and the store delivers them to her home.
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Healthy glutinous rice dumpling sets are widely available on online marketplaces. (Screenshot) |
Capitalizing on consumer demand, several large stores have quickly entered the market for "healthy" glutinous rice dumplings. Many pre-packaged dumpling sets labeled "organic" or "healthy" are appearing on social media and e-commerce platforms.
However, due to high input costs, organic glutinous rice dumplings are more expensive than traditional products. According to surveys, processed brown rice and organic glutinous rice dumplings range in price from 25,000 to 50,000 VND per box, depending on ingredients and brand. Some higher-end varieties, using special ingredients or processes, can cost up to 100,000 - 150,000 VND per set, many times higher than regular glutinous rice dumplings.
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A set of organic glutinous rice dumplings costs 139,000 VND. Photo: Screenshot |
Despite the higher price, many consumers are still willing to pay for a healthier product. “ During the Cold Food Festival , there are many buyers of glutinous rice balls and vegetarian cakes; we sell them as soon as we make them. The most popular product is the organic glutinous rice ball flour set, and it's always sold out, ” Mr. Tuan shared.
The market for organic glutinous rice dumplings is predicted to continue expanding in the coming years, as consumers increasingly prioritize healthy foods and handcrafted, minimally processed products.
On the occasion of the Cold Food Festival (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month) every year, Vietnamese people traditionally make glutinous rice balls and vegetarian cakes to offer to their ancestors. These cakes symbolize the reverence of descendants towards their grandparents and ancestors. Furthermore, this traditional dish also evokes the story of the "hundred eggs" in the legend of Au Co and Lac Long Quan. |
Le Van
Source: https://congthuong.vn/chay-hang-banh-troi-organic-tet-han-thuc-vi-sao-380741.html
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