Businesswoman brings purple Bauhinia flowers to traditional cakes commemorating Dien Bien Phu Victory

Memories of her small but great grandmother, and stories from the old battlefields, inspired Hanoi businesswoman Trinh Hong Giang to research meaningful products and gift sets to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory; to welcome the National Tourism Year and the Hoa Ban Festival 2024.

Ms. Trinh Hong Giang, CEO of Gia Trinh Bakery chain, is the third generation to inherit and develop traditional Hanoi-style pastries and other culinary specialties in Vietnam. She shares her journey of researching and bringing traditional pastries made from bauhinia flowers to consumers.

Ms. Trinh Hong Giang, CEO of Gia Trinh Bakery chain

- What inspired you to launch the "Purple Bauhinia Flower" product line?

Since I was little, I've always heard stories about my grandmother. She sacrificed and toiled to raise her children. Working in various professions, from teaching to baking, she always remained connected to the nation's traditions, participating in production and labor, and enthusiastically supporting the front lines.

The Dien Bien Phu campaign broke out when my father was 4 years old and my older sister was 7. My grandmother (Mrs. Vinh, the founder of Gia Trinh Bakery - who was then a teacher) left her children with my father to go to the battlefield. She used a bicycle to transport over 140 kg of medicine to Dien Bien Phu to "repay the debt to the country and avenge her family." Along with more than 200,000 civilian workers and volunteer youth at that time, she braved bombs and bullets, contributing a small part to the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, "renowned throughout the world and shaking the earth."

My grandmother recounted this story as if sharing a small, joyful anecdote with me and her grandchildren, her eyes filled with happiness and pride. In 2004, when she visited Dien Bien Phu – the former battlefield – she even took a photo next to the iconic cargo bicycle that she, along with countless young volunteers and militiamen, had used to transport food, supplies, and medicine.

In 2009, when our family built a farm to grow various ingredients and medicinal herbs for making cakes, my father cherished planting two purple bauhinia trees. The flowers bloom brightly almost year-round as a reminder of my grandmother and this commemorative period.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, and to celebrate the National Tourism Year and the Hoa Ban Festival 2024, since the end of February, I and the staff of Gia Trinh Bakery have been nurturing the idea of ​​researching and launching meaningful products and gift sets to commemorate my humble yet great grandmother and to share in the national pride towards our beloved Dien Bien Phu.

Desserts and cakes in the "Purple Bauhinia Flower" collection.

- Conveying so many touching stories, what makes this collection unique?

Initially, the "Purple Bauhinia Flower" collection was inspired by the distinctive warm purple hue of the Bauhinia flower – a flower associated with the Dien Bien Phu victory – combined with characteristic products and ingredients from the Northwest region such as upland sticky rice, Tua Chua Shan Tuyet tea, and purple sweet potatoes, all set against the backdrop of the long-loved Gia Trinh ethnic cakes and pastries.

After about two weeks of implementation, and after researching many traditional medicine texts and the culinary practices of Northwest Vietnam, my father suggested trying to use the Bauhinia flower in production. Traditional medicine records indicate that Bauhinia flowers can treat coughs, sore throats, and digestive problems such as dysentery, bloating, and diarrhea.

I tried applying it to baking and the results exceeded my expectations. The dried, finely ground purple flowers have a very slight astringent and bitter taste, with a subtle mountain and forest aroma, and they blend perfectly with the rice and coconut milk that Gia Trinh is already familiar with in cakes and drinks, creating unique flavors. Once again, the brand's products uphold the values ​​of "medicinal goodness and compassion" that three generations have cherished and developed.

- You decided to incorporate bauhinia flowers into your cuisine; wasn't that a risky move?

Due to the tight deadline, the production team had to concentrate intensely on research when the idea was conceived. Upon receiving information about the new product, I was delighted to see the artisans enthusiastically begin working on it, as this product line holds great significance not only for Gia Trinh but also contributes to the cuisine of Dien Bien, the Northwest region, and Vietnamese cuisine in general.

The most nerve-wracking part was harvesting, drying, and powdering the Bauhinia flowers. All the anxiety and stress disappeared when the finished product was ready. Everyone, from myself to all the team members involved in the research and production, was overwhelmed with emotion because the shape of the cakes and tea was perfect from the first try. Only minor adjustments were needed to achieve the desired result.

The products embody national love and pride.

Through this collection, my family and all the team members involved in creating the products are sending a little something of our heartfelt sentiment towards Dien Bien Phu and expressing our love and pride for the Vietnamese nation. We also hope that when young people eat and enjoy the products in this collection, because they like them and find them delicious, they will also learn more about the Dien Bien Phu victory and the cuisine of the Northwest region.

- How has the product been received?

Fortunately, the products received a lot of positive support from customers and young people. Some customers came specifically because of the name "Hoa Ban" (Ban Flower). They wanted to experience what it's like to eat ban flowers, and what's so special about it. Some were just curious, while others were genuinely interested in this important national festival.

The product was introduced to consumers in the capital city.

Initially, we weren't confident using the Bauhinia flower in our products, and the name Bauhinia itself was simply the inspiration for developing many products with this distinctive purple color. But one morning, an elderly customer, upon learning about the "Bauhinia Flower Purple" product line, came to try "Bauhinia Flower" just once and regretted not being able to buy it when she learned the new product was still in testing. This discerning yet passionate customer, who loved Bauhinia flowers, further motivated our research team to meticulously develop a product made from Bauhinia flowers, so that not only the Bauhinia flower purple color but also the Bauhinia flower ingredients would be delicious and meaningful!

Thank you for sharing!

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