Local specialties are getting a makeover.

In the days leading up to Tet, when flower markets begin to bloom and the aroma of traditional cakes and pastries permeates the streets, Dak Lak's OCOP products also get a "new look".

Towards the end of the year, the pace of work at many OCOP (One Commune One Product) establishments in Dak Lak is faster than usual. The Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere arrives early in each packaging workshop, where gift boxes are neatly arranged, covered in warm, sophisticated colors—elegant enough to be given as gifts, yet rustic enough to evoke the taste of home.

In Ea Kao ward, these days, the production facility of Hoang Ky Trading and Manufacturing Co., Ltd. operates almost non-stop. Cordyceps – the company's flagship product – is being packaged continuously to meet Tet holiday orders. From fresh mushrooms and freeze-dried forms to powdered capsules, each product line has its own specifications, suitable for different customer segments.

Hoang Ky Cordyceps products come in a variety of designs.

Mr. Truong Hoang Ky, the company's director, shared: “Having achieved OCOP 3-star certification since 2023, Hoang Ky Cordyceps is a popular choice for Tet gift baskets due to its nutritional value and health benefits. To meet the increasingly sophisticated tastes and demands of customers, the company has also researched and adjusted its packaging designs. From simple, compact gift boxes to high-end, elegant gift sets, convenient for customers to carry or give as gifts to business partners. This change has helped Cordyceps – once considered a product for a select few – become more accessible and gently enter the Tet celebrations of many families.”

In Buon Ma Thuot ward, Nai Chau Son Joint Stock Company is also busy preparing large orders to be shipped to Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces. Nearly 100 product lines made from deer antlers, such as fresh deer antlers, dried deer antlers, deer antler-infused wine, deer antler powder, etc., are meticulously designed.

According to Ms. Nguyen Hong Cam Chau, the company's director, the Chau Son deer antler velvet product received OCOP 3-star certification in 2024. The Lunar New Year is the peak season of the year, with customers buying the product for gifts, personal use, and even placing large orders for traditional medicine and functional food establishments.

As for coffee – the flavor that has become the "soul" of the red basalt soil region – it is almost indispensable in spring gift baskets that embody the spirit of the Central Highlands.

Customers purchase traditional fish sauce products from Mrs. Mười (address: Xuân Đài ward).

Ms. Tran Thi Hoa, Director of Ama Thuot Trading and Service Co., Ltd. (Ea Drang commune), said that the company currently has two products that achieved OCOP 3-star provincial certification since 2022: Ama Thuot Roasted and Ground Coffee and Ama Thuot Coffee Flower Honey. With support in packaging design, QR code traceability, and participation in e-commerce platforms, Ama Thuot's products are expanding their market. Monthly revenue from these two products exceeds 1 billion VND, with peak periods during Tet (Lunar New Year). For those far from home or tourists, a gift basket containing coffee, honey, and macadamia nuts is not only a material gift but also a way to convey the flavors of the Central Highlands mountains and forests to the spring feast.

The Superior Roasted Ground Coffee (OCOP 4-star) from Huong Huong Trading & Service Co., Ltd. (Binh Kien Ward) is another prime example of a specialty product being present during the Vietnamese Tet holiday. The coffee is carefully selected from the Song Hinh region (now the communes of Ea Ba, Ea Ly, Duc Binh, and Song Hinh), and processed using a modern, closed-loop system. What makes Superior Roasted Ground Coffee unique is the harmonious combination of a traditional recipe and the distinctive roasting techniques of the Binh Kien region. Beyond focusing on flavor, the company also incorporates images of its homeland into each box of coffee. The packaging features the image of Thap Nhan Tower – a familiar landmark of the area – transforming the product from a simple beverage into a gift bearing the cultural imprint of the Nẫu region during the early days of spring.

Today, the trend of choosing OCOP products as Tet gifts is not simply a change in consumer habits. It's a journey back to sustainable values, a way for consumers to connect with regional culture and contribute to spreading pride in Vietnamese goods. As consumers increasingly prioritize products that are "beautiful, good, and have a story," OCOP gift baskets with meticulous packaging, certified quality, and transparent origins are gradually becoming a familiar choice for agencies, businesses, and many families. And each OCOP gift given during Tet not only conveys wishes for health and prosperity but also a gentle message about the flavors of home.

Le Thanh

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202602/dac-san-thay-ao-moi-de97aea/