nostalgic for Dao Tru's "lim forest pineapple"

The "legend" of the lim forest pineapple

From Dai Dinh town, travel along provincial road 302 towards Chang bridge for about 4 to 5 km to reach Dao Tru commune. Following the narrow road with many houses hidden in the gardens, along the road in front of those houses, local people set up small tents, selling many local products: wild honey, jackfruit, pickled bamboo shoots with chili... the scene is very peaceful.

Dao Tru is a difficult locality in Tam Dao district of Vinh Phuc province, the population is mainly San Diu ethnic group, with many unique customs and practices, rich in cultural values. Here, not only are there ancient lim forests that are green all year round, but it is also famous for lim forest pineapple - a unique specialty, created by chance from the diligence of local people.

The summer sun is like fire, moving on the roads shaded by green and cool ancient trees in Dao Tru commune is really comfortable. But it is even more interesting if tourists stop at roadside shops in the right pineapple season, taste the fresh, sweet, fragrant golden pineapple pieces... that will really bring travelers a comfortable and interesting feeling.

The specialty “lim forest pineapple” is always a reminder for those who have tasted it. Photo: Sy Hao.

At a hut built from very crudely made stakes, next to a lim forest with many large tree trunks that an adult cannot hug around, with lush branches and leaves shading a large area. This place is used by Mr. Nguyen Van May and his wife, Dong Lieu village, Dao Tru commune, to make a tea shop, and sell local products, mainly fruits: bananas, jackfruit, custard apples, grapefruits and especially lim forest pineapples... each season has its own products.

In a monotone voice, Mr. Nguyen Van May told the story of the formation of a very surprising local specialty. Decades ago, the area of ​​​​lim forest in Dao Tru commune was under the management of the Cooperative. However, around 1976 or 1977, the Cooperative was dissolved and transferred the management rights of the lim forest to households - people were not allowed to exploit lim, but only to look after and cultivate under the forest canopy, which at that time was full of wild plants.

“We cleared the trees under the ironwood forest canopy, planted crops such as cassava and vegetables, but the productivity and efficiency were not high. At that time, some people experimented with growing pineapples, with the aim of providing raw materials for the candy factory in Tam Duong district.

When the pineapples ripen, most people are surprised, because the pineapples grown under the canopy of ironwood forests all have a very special delicious taste, which cannot be compared to pineapples grown elsewhere" - Mr. Nguyen Van May said.

Surprisingly, growing under the canopy of ironwood forest, the normal pineapple trees have completely changed their flavor, becoming sweet, not sour, and much more fragrant than those grown in other places.

Nostalgia for the gift of heaven…

Good wine needs no bush, many tourists every time they have the opportunity to pass through Dao Tru commune, and part of Dai Dinh town in the summer, the specialty "lim forest pineapple" is always a reminder to them.

Pineapples start to ripen from the end of the 5th lunar month, especially from May 20th onwards. Before this time, pineapples from other places are often brought in disguised as “lim forest pineapples”. Dao Tru lim forest pineapples are usually not sold by weight. Customers can choose to buy by the fruit. Each fruit costs from 7 to 10 thousand VND, depending on its size.

Many people in Dao Tru commune are attached to and want to preserve the “lim forest pineapple” as a “specialty” given by heaven, which has brought stable and sustainable income to many families. Photo: Sy Hao.

Dao Tru commune residents also said that Tam Dao district currently has nearly 25 hectares of pineapple, of which Dai Dinh and Dao Tru are the two localities with the largest planting areas. Growing pineapples takes about 3 years for the plants to be ready for harvest. The "fierce" thing is that during that "long" time, one must be very careful, because young pineapples planted in forest patches far from home are the type of plants that are heavily eaten by buffaloes and cows.

“Sometimes, three years of hard work can be destroyed by buffaloes and cows in one morning. But when the pineapples have a stable harvest, the care is greatly reduced, and thus the income is sustainable year after year without having to replant,” said Mr. Ly Van Tu, Dao Tru commune.

The income from lim forest pineapple is about 100 million VND/1 ha/year, lower than that from growing eucalyptus. However, many local people still do not want to switch to other crops, not only because they want to preserve the fertility of the land - growing eucalyptus or acacia makes the land quickly lose its fertility. In addition, they are reluctant and want to keep "lim forest pineapple" as a "specialty" given by heaven, which has brought stable and sustainable income to many families.