The essence of Tay Ninh shrimp salt

Tay Ninh , a landlocked province, is famous for its uniquely delicious shrimp salt. It's also an indispensable item during the Lunar New Year.

Tay Ninh, a landlocked province, is famous for its uniquely delicious shrimp salt. It's also an indispensable item during the Lunar New Year.

The pride of Tay Ninh people

Arriving in Tay Ninh under the scorching sun of a border province, we were surprised to find that a land without a coastline or shrimp could produce such a delicious, savory shrimp salt, unmatched anywhere else. This is not only a secret but also a source of pride for the people of Tay Ninh.

The bustling activity of making shrimp salt in Tay Ninh province as Tet approaches. Photo: Tran Trung.

According to locals, as the name suggests, Tay Ninh shrimp salt is a combination of shrimp and salt. Although it sounds simple, creating delicious and high-quality shrimp salt requires meticulous and elaborate processing steps. Furthermore, Tay Ninh's favorable weather, with its long periods of hot sunshine—sometimes exceeding 10 hours a day—is a rare advantage for shrimp salt production.

Visiting the Thang Loi shrimp salt production facility, one of the leading salt producers in Tay Ninh province, we witnessed firsthand the elaborate production process and heard the story of building a brand and bringing Tay Ninh's specialty to the international market.

Ms. Truong Thi Vu Vi (far left) introduces the salt-making process. Photo: Tran Trung.

According to Ms. Truong Thi Vu Vi, owner of Thang Loi shrimp salt production facility, Tay Ninh currently has many shrimp salt production facilities with diverse varieties. To maintain a foothold in the market, the facility always prioritizes product quality and food safety and hygiene.

To create flavorful and rich-tasting shrimp salt, the shrimp and chili peppers must be fresh and undamaged, and the salt must be free of impurities. Next, the shrimp, chili peppers, and salt are finely ground and mixed thoroughly in a specific ratio, then roasted in a pan. This process is crucial as it determines the color and distinctive flavor of the shrimp salt.

"Previously, craftsmen had to carefully monitor the fire and roast the ingredients evenly to create the brick-red color and distinctive aroma. Now, our facility combines traditional methods with modern technology, such as machinery and industrial production processes, to create products that are visually appealing, uniform, and ensure food safety and hygiene without losing their traditional value and flavor, meeting the increasingly high demands of consumers," shared Ms. Truong Thi Vu Vi.

Nowadays, some stages of salt production are assisted by machinery, helping to improve product quality. Photo: Tran Trung.

Despite having modern equipment, the process of drying shrimp in salt still depends on the weather to avoid losing its traditional flavor and identity. The sunnier it is, the happier the salt makers are. To maximize the use of sunlight, the facility has invested in a system of enclosed buildings.

Although the initial investment is quite high, enclosed salt houses protect the salt from adverse weather conditions such as unpredictable rain and wind, while also maximizing heat absorption, helping the salt dry faster and more uniformly without losing color or quality. In addition, enclosed houses prevent insect infestation, ensuring food safety and hygiene.

Delicious flavors of Tet

Ms. Truong Thi Vu Vi further revealed that, thanks to systematic production combining traditional expertise and modern technology, in 2023, the shrimp salt products of her facility were honored with a 3-star OCOP product rating. Currently, the facility is working to upgrade to a 4-star rating. Being recognized as an OCOP product is one of the effective "passports" to bring the facility's agricultural products to market.

“To gain a foothold in the market, production facilities need to be reputable, ethical, capable, and have complete documentation proving the origin and food safety of their products. Obtaining OCOP certification is not easy. We need all the necessary documents and certifications regarding food safety and production processes for salt, chili, garlic, shrimp, etc.,” said Ms. Truong Thi Vu Vi.

Ms. Vy proudly displays the shrimp salt product manufactured by her facility. Photo: Tran Trung.

From a small-scale production workshop, Thang Loi has now become one of the largest-scale production facilities in Tay Ninh province. On average, the facility supplies more than 400kg of various types of shrimp salt to the market each month. The facility's products are not only found on the shelves of organic food chains and supermarkets but are also exported to the United States and South Korea.

According to Ms. Vi, Thang Loi shrimp salt is not only delicious but also rich in nutritional value and an indispensable dipping sauce during Tet (Lunar New Year). With Tet 2025 (Year of the Snake) fast approaching, based on market trends, the facility has developed a specific production plan, balancing output to meet Tet market demand.

“Besides shrimp chili salt, our facility also offers vegetarian chili salt, pepper salt, lemongrass salt, and other products to cater to a diverse range of customers. With superior quality and a special processing formula, we hope that with the slogan 'Thang Loi Salt, no worries,' consumers will be able to enjoy delicious products during family meals and Tet reunions,” Ms. Vi shared.

Tay Ninh shrimp salt has a vibrant red color, a strong aroma, and a rich, spicy flavor that makes it unforgettable for those who try it. Photo: Tran Trung.

According to Ms. Vo Thi Thu Cuc, Head of the Rural Development Sub-Department of Tay Ninh province, Tay Ninh shrimp salt has a bright red color, a strong aroma, and a rich, spicy flavor that makes it unforgettable for diners. In particular, Tay Ninh shrimp salt is produced using advanced, clean technology, ensuring food safety and hygiene, and meeting international standards such as ISO and HACCP.

"Currently, Tay Ninh shrimp salt has become a popular brand domestically and is exported to several international markets, especially the US, a demanding market. This is a proud achievement, proving that a locality without a coastline, without shrimp or garlic, can still successfully process a product that meets standards and export it to the world ," Ms. Cuc said enthusiastically.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/tinh-hoa-muoi-tom-tay-ninh-d417541.html