Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò – A Black Delight From the Northwest

Also known as Muong Lo Black Sticky Rice Cake, this is one of the traditional Thai ethnic dishes that often appears on Tet holidays. Along with the unique flavor and the meaning this dish brings, Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò became a specialty of Yen Bai land,  passed down through many generations, and always brought out as a treat when guests come to the house.

In addition, this dish carries many meanings. You will learn more about the culture and traditions of the Thai ethnic people in Yen Bai through the ingredients and the way of making this specific dish.

Main ingredient

The ingredients to prepare Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò are usually familiar ingredients such as sticky rice, dong leaves, pork, green beans, etc. Sticky rice is one of the most important ingredients in creating deliciousness. soft and flexible for the crust. For the outer crust to reach the appropriate softness, the must-chosen ingredients are Tú Lệ glutinous rice, and the stem of the bamboo tree to create the black color for the crust. One of the interesting points of Bánh Chưng Đen is the way it is wrapped.

The ingredients to prepare Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò are usually familiar ingredients such as sticky rice, dong leaves, pork, green beans, etc

One of the interesting points of Bánh Chưng Đen is the way it is wrapped. Although it is called Bánh Chưng, instead of just wrapping it in a square shape, Bánh Chưng Đen can also be wrapped into a cylindrical shape like a banh tet. No matter how it is packaged, Bánh Chưng still retains its unique flavor and special meaning.

Special meaning

The crust black covering the yellow mung bean filling refers to the harmony between heaven and earth in Yen Bai. Known as the land of white rice and clear water, Mường Lò has left its mark in the hearts of many people through its traditional Bánh Chưng Đen.

According to Thai ethnic people’s beliefs, the pickled tree trunk used to cook Bánh Chưng Đen is the tree that after going through a long process of blooming and being dropped salt on the root, has accumulated all the aura of heaven and earth. Meanwhile, sticky rice and black pork represent the results of a year of hard work and production by farmers. 

Therefore, black sticky rice cake is not only a dish but also the culinary soul of Thai ethnic people living in Yen Bai.

For Thai ethnic people, Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò is a unique product that they often use to offer to heaven, earth, and their ancestors. This is one of the cultural features that has a long tradition and has been preserved and passed down by Thai ethnic people through many generations. Every time Tet comes, no matter how busy they are, every family here always takes a little time to cook a pot of fragrant Bánh Chưng Đen and offer it to the ancestral altar.

Sticky rice is one of the most important ingredients in creating deliciousness, softness, and flexibility for the crust

Unique feature

Unlike Banh Chung in many other regions, Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò takes on a new color that surprises many people the first time they enjoy it. The taste of Bánh Chưng Đen is extremely delicious and hard to resist. Try biting into a piece of it, you will feel the fragrant and flexible outer layer and the sweet, fatty, and extremely attractive filling inside.

Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò usually only appears on holidays and the New Year and is most popular with the Thai community in Yen Bai. However, today this dish is gradually becoming popular and becoming a famous specialty in the Yen Bai Highlands.

If you are looking for a delicious and authentic Vietnamese dish, Bánh Chưng Đen Mường Lò is a great option. It is a flavorful and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone.

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