Hai Phong specialty grown on salt soil, sweet as sugar, crunchy and cool to eat

Although grown on salt land, this specialty has a sweet, juicy taste, is cool and crispy, and is sought after by many local and foreign diners.

Salted apples are a unique specialty of Nam Do Son ward, Hai Phong city (Bang La ward, old Do Son district), once entered the Top 100 Vietnamese gift specialties 2021-2022 announced by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings) and Top Vietnam Organization (VietTop).

The reason for this name is because this type of apple is grown on land that used to be salt fields. Thanks to that, the apples here have a different quality and flavor compared to many other places, with a prominent sweet taste, juicy, crunchy and cool.

Bang La salted apples (also known as salted apples) have long been famous for their rich flavor because they are grown on salty and sour soil in Bang La ward, old Do Son district. Photo: HP Agricultural Extension Center

Ms. Vu Huyen - owner of a Bang La salted apple garden in Nam Do Son ward said that the harvest season of this apple variety lasts several months, from December to February every year.

Depending on weather conditions each year, the salted apple season may come earlier or later.

According to this woman, Bang La salted apples grow well and produce quality fruit on sour and salty soil, especially the growing and care process does not use any stimulants.

Many families only use pond water or brackish water for daily irrigation without much care. When the apples bear fruit, locals will use traps, insect patches or hire pest control workers to prevent the apples from being damaged by insects, ensuring high yields.

When ripe, the salted apples turn lemon yellow, the fruit is about the size of 2-3 fingertips, crispy and juicy. Photo: Bang La Hai Phong Apples

Salted apples are considered to have a sweet taste, mixed with a little sourness. When eaten, you can feel the juiciness and crispness.

That is why this type of apple is very popular. The harvest season often coincides with the Lunar New Year so the demand is even higher.

“Thanks to its delicious, crunchy, sweet, and juicy flavor, Bang La salted apples are said to be as sweet as sugar, as cool as rock sugar, and have become a favorite gift for diners near and far.

This fruit is good for relieving indigestion, so it attracts more customers to buy it at the beginning of the year," said Ms. Huyen.

Salted apples are mainly consumed in Hai Phong city and the northern provinces to ensure freshness. Photo: Phuong Mon

The garden owner revealed that every season, the salted apples are harvested and sold out immediately. On average, each tree yields about 80-100kg/season.

Not only traders, many tourists from Hanoi , Quang Ninh… are also willing to travel hundreds of kilometers here to buy apples directly from the garden.

Depending on the time, salted apples are sold for 40,000 - 60,000 VND/kg (if the crop fails, the price will be higher).

Even when transported to distant provinces, this fruit is pushed up to 100,000 VND/kg but still attracts customers.

Salted apples are said to be as sweet as sugar and as cool as rock sugar. Photo: Bang La Hai Phong Apples

Ms. Ha My (Hanoi) said that every year she orders a ton of salted apples to be shipped from her garden in Hai Phong to Hanoi to eat and give as gifts to friends, relatives, and partners.

She commented that the salted apples here have a distinctive flavor, and taste much better than other apple varieties. Not to mention, this type of apple is also simply cared for and grown naturally, so it is guaranteed to be clean, healthy, and safe to use.

“Salted apples are easy to eat and delicious, so every year I have to order and 'reserve' a month in advance. Because these apples are popular, there are still cases of mixing and selling substandard apples, so I have to find a reputable place to buy them.

On average, I buy 2-3 times a season, each time about 20-30kg to make it worth the cost of eating and transporting. During Tet, this type of apple becomes a common fruit in my house, both children and adults like it,” said Ms. My.

Salted apples are delicious eaten straight or made into jam. Photo: Nguyen Thi Hoang Mai

This woman also said that the salted apples from Bang La that she bought only need to be washed with water before being able to enjoy them. To preserve them longer and refresh the flavor, she also transformed the salted apples into a delicious sweet and sour jam.

Vinh Long specialty has a "sad" name, gourmets praise it as delicious, sweeter than crab . Although it has a strange "sad appearance" with a rough black shell, this specialty is an ingredient used to make many delicious dishes that attract customers in Vinh Long.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dac-san-hai-phong-trong-tren-nen-dat-muoi-vi-ngot-nhu-duong-an-gion-mat-2468625.html