Wild tamarinds on the street: Sour fruit becomes a 'memorable' dish

Wild tamarind, a wild fruit with a sour taste typical of the mountains and forests, is becoming a popular snack, attracting many women in the city.

Northwest specialties "upgraded": From snacks to best-selling items

Recently, on culinary forums and online markets, the keyword “wild tamarind” has appeared with high frequency. Many office ladies shared that just seeing bunches of fresh wild tamarind dipped in salt and chili makes their mouths water, creating a trend of enjoying mountain specialties with great pleasure.

Wild tamarind is loved by many women. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Wild tamarinds usually grow in the northern mountainous provinces such as Lang Son, Lao Cai, Ha Giang ... When brought to the street, this fruit attracts attention because of its strange taste and price of about 60,000 VND/kg at traditional markets.

There are two popular types of wild tamarind on the market: the green fruit, small in size, with a strong sour taste and the larger fruit, which when turning yellow-brown has a mild sour taste and a slightly sweet aftertaste. The characteristic flavor of wild tamarind lies in the blend of the initial mild astringency, the crisp sour taste and the lingering sweetness in the throat. Many people compare this to a "miraculous" fruit because the taste changes with each layer.

Wild tamarind is a large fruit, yellow-brown in color, slightly sour, with a sweet aftertaste. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

In season, wild tamarinds quickly cover online markets. Traders say demand has increased dramatically, especially from urban consumers who have few opportunities to enjoy highland specialties.

Ms. Hoang Anh, a small trader selling wild tamarinds in Hanoi , said: “ I mainly import wild tamarinds from Lang Son. The fruit is large, light yellow, and turns sweet at the end of the season, so customers order a lot. Sometimes I have to close orders early because I run out of stock. In addition to fresh fruit, I also make tamarinds soaked in salt, chili, and sugar for customers to buy and eat .”

Wild tamarinds are conveniently packaged for buyers. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Short supply makes wild tamarind a "rare commodity"

In mountainous areas, wild tamarind is used in many ways such as eating fresh with salt and chili, stewing with fish, cooking soup, soaking in wine or making syrup. When "going to the city", wild tamarind becomes a snack that is especially loved by young people and office workers thanks to its unique sweet and sour taste, eye-catching appearance and affordable price.

Market research shows that fresh wild tamarind is commonly sold at 50,000-70,000 VND/kg, while wild tamarind soaked in salt, chili, or sugar fluctuates around 100,000 VND/kg.

The sour taste on the tip of the tongue and then the sweet aftertaste make this fruit an irresistible snack. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Many other retailers also recorded a sharp increase in purchasing power. Ms. Thanh Ngoc, a fruit vendor on Tran Cung Street (Hanoi), shared: “ This year, wild tamarinds are much more sought after. Every day I import a few dozen kilos but sometimes it is still not enough to deliver. Office customers like the unusual sour taste, bring it to the office to eat together, so they place orders very quickly .”

Buyers said they initially bought it out of curiosity when they heard about wild tamarind, then became regular customers thanks to its unique flavor. Ms. Hong Anh (Vu Ngoc Phan, Hanoi) said: " The first time I tried it, I found it slightly astringent, sour with a bit of bitterness then turning to a very interesting sweet taste. When I brought it to the office, all the ladies liked it and asked me to order more ."

Ms. Hong Anh said that at first she bought it out of curiosity, but then she became passionate about this mountain snack. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Wild tamarinds usually bloom in April and ripen in October and November of the lunar calendar. This is also the period when the fruit market is most vibrant. With a full range of sour, astringent, and sweet flavors, this wild fruit quickly becomes a "memorable" snack, especially for those who love the distinctive flavors of the Northwest mountains and forests.

Due to the short harvest time and low yield, wild tamarinds are usually only available for a few weeks. Traders advise consumers to buy from reputable points of sale, prioritizing fresh fruit with smooth skin and green stems to ensure the best flavor.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/me-rung-xuong-pho-qua-chua-chat-thanh-mon-an-gay-thuong-nho-433857.html