During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), the air is filled with the fragrant scent of...

A platter full of meat is served during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Photo: ZƠRÂM THỊ TÝ

From the very first days of being a daughter-in-law, I was warmly welcomed by the Co Tu people. During Tet (Lunar New Year), in addition to the colorful festivals, there were delicious dishes with the rich flavors of the mountains and forests.

According to the elderly Co Tu people, about a month after the harvest, when the fields have been cleared, the Co Tu begin preparing for Tet (Vietnamese New Year). At this time, sticky rice is carefully selected to prepare buffalo horn-shaped cakes and banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cakes). Jars of rice wine are also ready.

The Co Tu people believe that Tet (Lunar New Year) is an occasion to truly "eat and play" after months of hard work. For them, Tet is like a reward for their labor.

This is clearly evident in the New Year's feast of the Co Tu people. Unlike other ethnic groups living in the Eastern Truong Son Mountains, the Co Tu people's New Year's feast for guests usually includes a variety of specialties such as smoked dried meat, fermented meat, and meat grilled in bamboo tubes...

Smoked meat is traditionally made from rat or squirrel meat. In recent years, with the decline of wild game, the Co Tu people have replaced it with smoked pork and beef. This dish is usually prepared by slicing the meat into long strips, then skewering them and marinating them with spices. After several days of smoking, the meat develops a distinctive aroma.

In recent years, vegetables have started appearing on the feast table, reflecting the preferences of young people. Photo: ZƠRÂM THỊ TÝ

Besides smoking, the Co Tu people also prepare grilled meat, fermented meat in bamboo tubes, za ra (meat minced in bamboo tubes), or dried fish and frogs along with black glutinous rice wine... to entertain guests. The Co Tu people believe that a feast for guests must include meat; a table full of meat not only shows hospitality but also is a way to thank heaven and earth for granting them a peaceful year and a bountiful harvest.

Each dish on the feast table is not just food, but also a story, a part of the Co Tu people's culture. If the groom is hosting his wife's family, the feast will be prepared differently from how the bride's family hosts the groom, so that they can "eat each other's dishes." For example, when the groom is hosting his wife's family, they will serve dishes made from four-legged meats such as pork, beef, buffalo, and wild game... While the bride's family will serve the groom or his relatives dishes such as fish, chicken, and duck... This is a unique cultural feature, demonstrating thoughtfulness and filial piety towards each guest.

Similarly, most of the Co Tu people's banh tet (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) do not have the filling found in banh tet from the lowlands. They say this reflects the simplicity and rustic nature of their community.

Another unique aspect, different from typical New Year's greeting rituals, that I experienced was the glass of honey offered by the host to honored guests. The Co Tu people don't just offer alcohol as a social formality; instead, they pour a glass of sweet, fragrant honey for guests who can't drink alcohol. This demonstrates their hospitality, respect, and genuine affection.

That glass of honey was a warm and friendly welcome, going beyond mere hospitality. It was a thoughtful sharing, a generous heart in treating guests.

The Tet feast of the Co Tu people is not only a connection of dishes, but also a connection between hearts, between generations of Co Tu people...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/ngay-tet-thom-mui-za-ra-3148363.html