The faint aroma of Son Doc puffed rice cakes

Passing through Son Doc intersection (Hung Nhuong commune), one can easily spot rows of rice crackers stretching out leisurely under the golden sun. In front of each house, the crackers are spread out close together, forming a continuous strip – a characteristic feature that has been associated with this century-old craft village.

Only by witnessing the cake-making process firsthand can one truly appreciate the meticulous effort of the baker. The glutinous rice used is a fragrant, sticky variety. The rice is cooked into sticky rice, then pounded until smooth and mixed with granulated sugar, coconut milk, and various other ingredients to create a unique flavor for each batch.

In 2018, Son Doc Rice Cracker Village was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The aroma of sticky rice, the flavor of coconut, and the subtle sweetness blend together to create a crispy rice cracker, carrying the sunshine, wind, and rustic beauty of this land – a taste that visitors from afar will find hard to forget.

Currently, the craft of making Son Doc puffed rice cakes is preserved by about 20 households in Hung Nhuong commune, and they are increasingly diversifying their products to meet consumer demand.

Every ray of sunshine must be utilized to dry the cakes; only when there is enough sun will the cakes puff up and achieve the desired deliciousness.

With over 25 years of experience, Ms. Vo Thi Huong (Hung Hoa Tay hamlet, Hung Nhuong commune) said: Making puffed rice cakes is a meticulous process. The baker must wake up early to soak the glutinous rice and then cook it into sticky rice. After that, it is pounded together with sugar and coconut milk to create a pliable dough, then rolled into a round shape and dried in the sun.

The Son Doc rice cracker village is gradually mechanizing its production process: dough kneading machines replace hand kneading, and drying machines assist during rainy and windy days, helping production facilities maintain a stable supply of crackers year-round.

Besides the traditional glutinous rice puffs, there are many other types: wheat flour puffs, milk puffs, banana puffs, rice crackers, rice paper, etc.

Local people have more jobs and a more stable life.

According to Vinh Long Newspaper

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/thoang-thom-banh-phong-son-doc-a468902.html