From rice grains to clean vermicelli noodles

QTO - Made from carefully selected, fragrant rice grains from the Le Thuy region, Tu Bich rice vermicelli is favored by many consumers for its chewy texture, natural white color, and especially for retaining the flavor of the rice. Although a traditional product, Tu Bich rice vermicelli has gained a foothold in the market by building its brand, improving its design and quality to meet the OCOP 3-star criteria.

The process of drying rice vermicelli products for market supply - Photo: DN

Taking advantage of the sunny weather, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich, from Quy Hau village, Le Thuy commune, along with several workers, is busily drying the freshly made rice vermicelli to fulfill pre-orders. Ms. Bich said that on average, her rice vermicelli processing facility supplies more than 250 kg of various types of dried rice vermicelli to the market every day. Most of Tu Bich's rice vermicelli customers are regulars. To maintain a stable sales volume, Tu Bich's rice vermicelli has continuously improved its quality to preserve the traditional flavor.

Ms. Bich said that her family's rice vermicelli production business has existed and operated for nearly 40 years. Previously, her family specialized in supplying rice to a vermicelli production facility near their home. However, after the facility ceased operations, the owner sold the machinery and passed on their rice vermicelli-making expertise to her family. Since then, her family has always strived to produce high-quality, fragrant vermicelli for consumers.

To ensure that rice vermicelli retains its chewy texture and flavor when cooked, in addition to a guaranteed production process, the raw materials are a crucial factor. The rice used to make vermicelli must be of high quality, fluffy, and fresh, free from mold or insects. If the rice is too sticky or has been stored for too long, the vermicelli strands will break apart when cooked and lose their characteristic aroma. Therefore, the rice selection process is considered a decisive factor in the product's quality.

“Currently, the raw materials for producing rice vermicelli are selected from the Nga Hoang brand of clean rice (Nga Hoang Rice Milling and Processing Cooperative, Le Thuy commune). Nga Hoang rice products have been recognized as meeting OCOP 3-star standards and have gained prestige by implementing a safe and clean rice production process. During the vermicelli production process, the facility also adheres to food safety criteria, not using bleaching agents or additives. To prevent mold and ensure the vermicelli strands are transparent, chewy, and elastic, the vermicelli must be dried promptly after being steamed and cut,” Ms. Bich said.

The product is delicious and high-quality; however, maintaining the traditional method without labels would make it difficult to build customer trust. Previously, Tu Bich rice vermicelli was tied with string and packaged in plain white plastic bags without any product information. Therefore, in 2023, with the support of the local government, Ms. Bich's family decided to invest in building a brand for the product. In early 2024, Tu Bich rice vermicelli achieved OCOP 3-star certification.

"Tu Bich rice vermicelli doesn't break apart when cooked, has just the right amount of chewiness, and retains the characteristic aroma of rice. The product has a label and meets OCOP 3-star standards, so my family feels confident using it," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly from Loc Thuy village, Le Thuy commune.

In addition to regular customers both within and outside the province, many schools in the area have confidently chosen to use Tu Bich rice vermicelli in their students' meals.

Regarding future plans, Ms. Bich shared: "Maintaining product quality is always a priority for our facility. In addition, to meet the increasing demand from customers, we hope the local authorities will create favorable conditions for expanding the production facility to better serve customers, especially during peak seasons."

D.N

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202603/tu-hat-gao-den-soi-mien-sach-63d1558/