A century of Phuoc Dat puffed rice cakes.

Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Thanh Chuong dry their rice crackers on a rack to catch the sunlight. Photo: TIEU DIEN

A long-standing family tradition

In the crisp, cool weather leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), we had the opportunity to visit Phuoc Dat hamlet, a village known for its rice cracker making. The locals were busy making rice crackers to supply the upcoming Tet market. The aroma of fresh glutinous rice and cassava, blended with the rich, sweet taste of coconut milk, permeated the air, filling the country roads with smoke from the kitchens. The perfectly round, white rice crackers were spread out in layers under the golden sun in front of the houses, creating a simple yet warm picture of the countryside.

According to locals, the craft of making puffed rice cakes in Phuoc Dat hamlet has existed for over a century, closely intertwined with the lives of many families and passed down through generations. Puffed rice cakes made from wheat flour and glutinous rice are increasingly well-known for their rich, fragrant, sweet, and savory flavor. Previously, puffed rice cakes were mainly consumed at home, given as gifts to guests, or produced during the last months of the year to sell during Tet (Lunar New Year) to earn extra income. Gradually, making puffed rice cakes has become a stable livelihood for many households. Currently, on average, two people can make 500-1200 cakes per day, earning approximately 300,000-500,000 VND per day after deducting expenses.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong (70 years old) is one of the households with a long history of making puffed rice cakes. Despite their advanced age, Mr. and Mrs. Chuong still regularly make cakes every day, both to supplement their income and to preserve their family's traditional craft. Mr. Chuong shared: "My family has been making puffed rice cakes for three generations. This profession has supported my grandparents, parents, and now my siblings and I continue the tradition. Our children and grandchildren learn the trade and start their own businesses, all hoping to preserve and develop our family's traditional craft."

Born and raised in a family that made puffed rice cakes, Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan has been familiar with the work of rolling the dough since childhood. “I remember those chilly days when the whole family stayed up late making puffed rice cakes together. The sound of the pestle pounding, the crackling of the fire, and the aroma of the cakes are intertwined with my life. As I grew up, I decided to preserve the craft. My daughter has gotten married and continues the tradition,” Ms. Loan proudly said.

Preserving traditional culture

Previously, rice crackers were made entirely by hand using mortars and pestles. Nowadays, to increase productivity and reduce labor, many households have invested in machinery to assist in production. However, important steps such as cooking the glutinous rice, steaming the cassava, rolling the dough, and drying the crackers are still done manually. The harmonious combination of tradition and modernity helps the craft village maintain stable production while preserving its unique cultural characteristics.

Having been involved in the craft for over 40 years, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Toi, Mr. Chuong's wife, nimbly rolls the dough without looking. In less than a minute, she completes a perfectly round cake. Mrs. Toi shared: "Making a puffed rice cake requires many steps. Every day, around 3 a.m., I start steaming cassava, cooking sticky rice, and grating coconut. The process of dividing the dough and rolling the cakes requires experience; only then can you produce a relatively round and even finished product."

In 2018, the traditional craft of making puffed rice cakes in Phuoc Dat hamlet was recognized, providing further motivation for the people to continue their commitment. After many years of dedication, Ms. Loan's family's puffed rice cakes made from wheat flour and glutinous rice were certified as typical rural industrial products of the commune. This Tet holiday, her family launched a new type of puffed rice cake with a harmonious sweet and savory flavor, crispy, fragrant, and slightly fatty when baked, offering consumers more choices. "We hope to create delicious, high-quality products so that more people will know about our hometown's specialty, thereby contributing to keeping the traditional puffed rice cake making craft alive in Phuoc Dat," Ms. Loan expressed.

Amidst the ever-changing modern pace of life, the rice cracker ovens in Phuoc Dat hamlet still burn brightly every day, preserving the authentic taste of their homeland through each fragrant, round cracker. Beyond simply earning a living, the craft of making rice crackers has become a connecting thread between generations, preserving Tet memories and the traditional cultural beauty of the Go Quao countryside. The perseverance of the local people is the foundation for the century-old craft to continue to be preserved, developed, and its values spread throughout life.

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tram-nam-banh-phong-phuoc-dat-a474774.html