Sweet and fragrant Vân Nham pink candy

Việt Nam•05/12/2024

- Van Nham commune, Huu Lung district, has long been famous for many traditional cakes such as thorn cakes, mugwort cakes, and sticky rice cakes... especially noteworthy is the pink candy made from glutinous rice flour and gac fruit. This is a long-standing candy of the Nung ethnic people here. The candy is usually made by the locals during festivals and holidays to offer to their ancestors or as gifts to guests visiting their homes.

Ms. Le Thi Bac, from Po Nim village, Van Nham commune, packages pink candy products.

In late November 2024, amidst the chilly weather, we had the opportunity to visit the family of Ms. Le Thi Bac in Po Nim village, Van Nham commune, Huu Lung district, who has over 10 years of experience making and selling pink candy. Ms. Bac shared: "I was born and raised in Van Nham commune. Since I was little, I've seen my grandmothers and mothers making traditional pink candy and learned how to make it. After getting married, I started making and selling pink candy and received support from many customers inside and outside the province. On average, I make about 10 kg of candy per day to sell to wholesalers inside and outside the district. Especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), starting from the 20th day of the 12th lunar month, I make an average of about 50 kg per day, selling it at 60,000 VND/kg to customers inside and outside the province, such as Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hanoi , etc."

To make delicious pink candy, the selection of ingredients is crucial. Specifically, the rice used must be large, round, glutinous rice of the "golden flower" variety. The rice is soaked overnight for 10-12 hours, then drained and mixed with gac fruit and fresh ginger to create color and aroma, before being ground into a watery paste.

Next, the candy maker puts the flour on the stove and stirs it continuously for about an hour. When the flour is cooked and thickens, sugar is added. According to the locals, the method of making pink candy and sticky rice cake is quite similar; however, pink candy is made from wet flour while sticky rice cake is made from dry flour. The sugar used for sticky rice cake is brown sugar, while the sugar used for pink candy is usually white granulated sugar. After adding the sugar, the candy maker continues to stir continuously to mix the sugar and flour together. This is an extremely important step; the maker must be skillful and patient, stirring gently over low to medium heat to prevent the sugar from burning. The flour is stirred continuously for about 5-6 hours until it becomes pliable and thick, at which point condensed milk (such as Ông Thọ brand) is added to create a rich, creamy flavor.

Depending on the eater's taste, the candy maker may add peanuts or lime leaves, then mix well. Afterward, the mixture is poured into molds and left for about 5 hours until dry before being cut into small, bite-sized pieces. When cutting, the candy maker will mix it with glutinous rice flour to prevent sticking and enhance the flavor.

According to the people of Van Nham commune, "hong candy" (pink candy) is a long-standing traditional dish. Made from gac fruit, which is red in color, the candy, when mixed with white glutinous rice flour, produces a light pink color, hence the name "hong candy" (pink candy). Previously, during the Lunar New Year, every family made "hong candy" to offer to their ancestors or to give to guests as gifts. Nowadays, with improved living standards, many households make "hong candy" to sell year-round. The candy makers still use the traditional hand-stirring method, which makes the candy more chewy, fragrant, and delicious, with a shelf life of 6-7 days. Depending on customer demand, the candy is prepared in various ways, such as traditional "hong candy" and peanut-flavored "hong candy," which are popular with customers both within and outside the province.

Ms. Lang Thi Linh, from Tay Mo ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi, said: "Last Tet, while visiting a friend's house in Huu Lung district, I had the opportunity to enjoy the pink candy from Van Nham commune. My first impression was that the candy had a very fragrant glutinous rice aroma, and when eaten, it was soft, chewy, and subtly sweet without being too strong. Because the candy was so delicious and had a relatively long shelf life, I bought more to give as gifts to my relatives to enjoy."

Mr. Pham Trong Nghia, Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Nham commune, said: "Pink candy is a traditional candy that has existed for a long time in the commune and is an indispensable product during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Currently, there are 5 households in the commune that regularly produce pink candy to supply markets inside and outside the province. In the past, to help promote the product to more people, we have displayed the product at conferences and events at the district and commune levels. In the future, to spread and develop the product, the People's Committee of the commune will continue to promote and advertise the product, aiming to build it into an OCOP product (One Commune One Product program), contributing to increasing income and preserving the traditional craft of the commune."

Pink candy is a simple, rustic treat that embodies the authentic flavors of the homeland in Van Nham commune. During festivals and holidays, descendants prepare pink candy themselves to offer to their ancestors, expressing gratitude and filial piety, and contributing to the preservation of the traditional culture of the Nung ethnic group in this area. If you have the opportunity to visit Van Nham commune, don't forget to try this unique candy to experience its distinctive local flavor.