Dong Thap specialty is sweet and fragrant like milk, Hanoi customers order shipping from thousands of kilometers to eat

Thanks to its delicious flavor and sweet taste like milk, this specialty fruit in Dong Thap is sought after by gourmet diners, willing to spend millions to buy dozens of kilos and have it shipped more than 1,700km to enjoy.

Lo Ren star apple is a famous fruit originating from Vinh Kim commune, Dong Thap province (Chau Thanh district, old Tien Giang province), once entered the Top 100 Vietnamese specialty gifts 2021-2022 announced by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings) and Top Vietnam Organization (VietTop).

According to locals, the name "Lo Ren" comes from a blacksmith who successfully bred this star apple variety, producing delicious fruit.

The star apples here are large and round, with shiny skin. The flesh is opaque white, has few seeds, and is sweet and refreshing.

Not only favored by locals, Lo Ren star apple has also become a "brand" specialty of Vinh Kim land, attracting visitors from near and far to buy and enjoy.

From the land of Vinh Kim, old Tien Giang province, Lo Ren star apple variety has gradually been widely propagated and grown in many provinces and cities in the West. Photo: Dong Thap Television

Ms. Kim Tuyen (a trader in Vinh Kim commune) said that Lo Ren star apple has two types: white and purple. Of which, white star apple has thick flesh, sweet taste, little latex, light fragrance and smooth.

Purple star apple has soft flesh, rich sweetness, and a more distinct aroma. However, if you do not know how to eat or handle the latex, it can easily stick to your hands and taste slightly bitter.

“Each type of star apple has its own flavor and advantages, suitable for each person's taste.

However, Lo Ren white star apple is more highly valued, many people praise it as the best star apple in Vietnam, often chosen as a gift or for export," said Ms. Tuyen.

Lo Ren star apple has thick flesh, shaped like a large star. The flesh close to the skin is soft and juicy, while the inside is crunchy. Photo: Tom Fruit

According to this woman, Lo Ren star apple season starts around October and lasts until March or April of the following year. Harvest time can be earlier or later depending on the year and weather conditions.

However, around November and December is considered the time when this star apple variety is most ripe, with milky berries and large, uniform size.

“If well cared for, the milk fruit tree will bear a lot of fruit, with an average weight of 4-5 fruits/kg, and the price per kilo ranges from 50,000 - 70,000 VND.

With VIP fruit, 3 fruits/kg, the price is higher, at the beginning of the season it can be up to 100,000 VND/kg," she added.

Although the price is quite high compared to many other traditional fruits, Lo Ren star apple is still favored by diners, spending a lot of money to buy because of its sweet and fragrant flavor, easy to eat, and can be enjoyed by both children and the elderly.

Not only consumed locally, for many years, this fruit has also been transported and sold in all provinces and cities across the country, even exported abroad.

The deliciousness and sweetness of white and purple star apples are different. When you cut open the fruit, you will see a milky liquid flowing out, with a sweet and fragrant taste, while the flesh is soft and supple. The part around the seed is crunchy like jelly. Photo: Linh Mango, Vy Pham

Ms. Phuong Nga ( Hanoi ) said that she had tried several varieties of star apples in Vietnam but was still impressed and liked the original purple Lo Ren star apple variety grown in Vinh Kim district, old Tien Giang province the most.

She commented that this fruit has a high flesh ratio, few and small seeds, a characteristic mild aroma and a sweet, cool taste.

Every year, when the star apples here are in season, she contacts the gardener and orders a few dozen kilos straight from the source to eat and give as gifts, even though the shipping cost of more than 1,700km to Hanoi is quite expensive.

“Buying star apples directly from the source will be cheaper, depending on the weight of the fruit. I usually order a few dozen kilos at a time to make it worth the shipping cost even though it costs millions of dong. It sounds like a lot, but it goes away very quickly. I can eat 2-3 fruits at once by myself,” Ms. Nga humorously said.

Gourmets are willing to order shipping more than 1,700km from old Tien Giang to Hanoi, spending millions to buy dozens of kilos of Lo Ren star apples to eat or as gifts.

According to this customer, the star apples are carefully harvested, wrapped and packaged carefully, so even though they are transported hundreds of kilometers away, their quality is still guaranteed. The fruit still retains its shiny skin, is not scratched or damaged, and is intact in both flavor and appearance.

"When you feel the skin of the star apple is thin and soft, that means the fruit is ripe. Before eating, you should gently squeeze around the fruit so that the 'milk' inside blends in, making the sweetness and aroma stronger.

If the fruit is ripe, the flesh close to the skin can also be eaten, without being sticky or having an astringent taste," she added.

Half-cooked specialty on the tray of offerings in Da Nang, Hanoi customers order delivery to eat . Grilled over fire to make the skin crispy, the meat soft and succulent, with a beautiful light pink color, this specialty is extremely loved by Da Nang people, often appearing on the tray of offerings on local death anniversaries and weddings.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dac-san-dong-thap-ngot-thom-nhu-sua-khach-ha-noi-dat-ship-ca-nghin-km-ve-an-2467372.html