Traditional profession of more than a hundred years

Hinsiu Village is not only famous for its vast rice fields, but also known for its tall palm trees that cast shade throughout the countryside.

Palm sugar making has existed here for more than a hundred years, becoming an indispensable part of the cultural and economic life of the people.

Mr. Xai has many years of experience in making palm sugar in Hin Siu village, Khong district, Champasak province, Laos.

The palm tree - the symbol of this land - is usually 10 to 20m high with lush green foliage. This tree needs 15 to 20 years to produce fresh water. The palm juice harvesting season lasts from December to the end of April every year. To get the water, people have to climb the palm tree and cut the flower stalks. This work requires strength and endurance, so it is mainly done by the men in the village.

To climb the tree, they use long bamboo sticks tied tightly to the trunk of the palm tree as a ladder. When they reach the top of the tree, they cut off the top of the flower stalk and place large bamboo tubes to collect the sweet water that flows out for about 8-10 hours. Each palm tree has only about 2-3 flower stalks that give the best water.

After harvesting, the palm juice must be filtered and cooked immediately to avoid fermentation, as this type of juice cannot be preserved for long. Thanks to the ingenuity and experience passed down through generations, the people of Hinsiu village have created a delicious palm sugar, imbued with the typical flavor of this land.

Cooking techniques - the essence of patience

The process of making palm sugar is not simply boiling water and pouring it into a mold, but is also a delicate art, requiring patience and high skills of skilled workers.

After being filtered, the palm juice is poured into large pans and boiled continuously for about 3 - 4 hours at a temperature of 80 - 90°C. This is the crucial stage, where each drop of water undergoes a magical transformation to become sugar. The worker must always concentrate, control the temperature precisely and adjust each step carefully to ensure the quality of the finished sugar.

Finished palm sugar.

When the water begins to condense, the worker does not simply perform the work, but acts as an artisan, creating perfection through each gentle and even stirring movement. Thanks to that, the sugar achieves a smooth, golden color, emits a characteristic aroma and retains its nutritional value.

Once the ideal consistency is reached, the sugar is poured into molds to form palm sugar balls. The finished product comes in two types: pure sugar and sugar combined with other ingredients such as peanuts or white sesame to enhance the unique flavor.

Mr. Xai - an experienced worker in the palm sugar making profession - shared: "Palm sugar is not only an ingredient that creates a unique flavor in cuisine , but can also be soaked in wine, made into cakes, and is a rich source of nutrients, bringing many health benefits, including iron, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, contributing to supplementing energy and improving the health of users."

Conservation and development

Palm sugar making not only brings a stable source of income but also plays an important role in preserving and promoting the cultural identity of Hinsiu village. Palm products such as sugar, cakes, and palm wine have become attractive specialties, attracting tourists every time they visit this countryside.

Palm sugar adds peanuts and white sesame to give the sugar a more fragrant and different flavor.

The palm sugar makers in Hinsiu are not only skilled artisans with many years of experience, but also preservers and developers of the nation’s traditional craft. Each batch of finished sugar is the crystallization of dedication, ingenuity and deep love for the craft.

The meticulousness in each stage - from harvesting palm juice to cooking sugar - has created products that are not only delicious but also rich in nutritional value, contributing to the enrichment of Lao cuisine. Moreover, this traditional craft also brings great economic and cultural value, helping to maintain local identity, promote community tourism and sustainable economic development.

The rows of palm trees grow tall and wide throughout the village, closely associated with the peaceful life of the people.

Come to Hinsiu village once, enjoy the sweetness of palm sugar and feel the sincerity and simplicity of the people here - people deeply attached to their homeland, land and culture of the Land of a Million Elephants.  

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/nghe-lam-duong-thot-not-nghe-thuat-ket-noi-voi-tu-nhien-va-truyen-thong-cua-lao-1014576