Bánh ú nước tro is one of the famous specialties of Soc Trang people. This cake is a combination of culinary quintessence between China and Vietnam. This is also a specialty that people here give to relatives and friends.
History
Bánh ú nước tro originated from Guangdong, China during the Ming Dynasty. The cake is offered on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month every year with the concept of eliminating insects for better harvest. For many generations, bánh ú nước tro has become an indispensable cultural feature in traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Although originating from China, Vietnam’s bánh ú nước tro still has distinct characteristics, imbued with the culture of Vietnamese people in general and Southerners in particular.
Specialties
Bánh ú nước tro is a simple but very delicious dish, loved by both adults and children. A delicious authentic bánh ú nước tro will have a clear, beautiful layer of sticky rice and a soft mung bean filling. When enjoying it, you will feel the extremely attractive aroma of the cake, along with the characteristic light taste of the chewy crust. The filling is attractive with the sweet taste of mung beans and the extremely special smell of bamboo leaves wrapping the cake.
– Bánh ú nước tro can be wrapped in banana leaves or especially bamboo leaves.
– Glutinous rice is used to make the cake. It is soaked in nước tro (ash water) and rinsed with clean water several times.
– Mung beans are used to make cake filling. The taste of the filling is sweet, soft, and fragrant.
Effects on health
This is not only one of the traditional cakes containing the quintessence of national culinary culture. According to Oriental Medicine, this cake has a sweet, cool, and benign taste that helps detoxify toxic substances from the body. Especially for the elderly and young children, bánh ú nước tro also helps treat fevers in the hot days.
Main ingredient
– Glutinous rice
– Mung beans
– Nước tro (ash water)
Recommend some places to enjoy
- Làng bánh ú: Bánh ú nước tro here are meticulously handmade. The cake filling is mainly sweet from crushed mung beans. They also have bánh ú nước tro with the filling of pumpkin or durian.
Address: Pham The Hien Street, District 8, HCMC
- Bánh ú khu người Hoa: Bánh ú nước tro here has more filling and the price is higher, however, because it is made in small quantities, the cake is taken care of more carefully.
Address: No. 398 Gia Phu Street, District 6, HCMC
No. 56C/67 Lac Long Quan Street, District 11, HCMC
No. 52B Lao Tu Street, District 5, HCMC
If you are looking for a delicious and authentic Vietnamese dish, Bánh ú nước tro is a great option. It is a flavorful and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone.
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