Also known as Northwest stem liquor, it is a specialty wine of Hoa Binh and Son La in the Northwest. Rượu cần of Hoa Binh Province is a specialty of Muong ethnic people. Rượu cần in Son La Province is a specialty of Thai ethnic people. Rượu cần is placed in a jar, drunk with a wine siphon, and is often used by people in the Northwest during holidays, Tet, weddings, entertaining guests, or inaugurating new houses.
Main ingredient
The ingredients to make a bottle of wine (rượu) are simple and easy to prepare, such as yeast and rice. Glutinous rice is a type of rice that is high in amylopectin, which is a type of starch that gives the rice its sticky texture. Glutinous rice is a staple food of ethnic origins in the Northwest region of Vietnam, and it is used to make a variety of dishes, including wine.
The other main ingredients in rượu cần are herbs and spices. The herbs and spices give the wine its unique flavor and aroma. Some of the most commonly used herbs and spices include:
- Yeast: Yeast is essential for the fermentation process.
- Ginger: Ginger gives the wine a slightly spicy and earthy flavor.
- Galangal: Galangal is a type of ginger that has a stronger flavor than traditional ginger. It gives the wine a more complex flavor profile.
- Kaffir lime leaves: Kaffir lime leaves give the wine a citrusy and floral aroma.
- Forest pepper yeast: Forest pepper yeast is a type of wild pepper that is native to the Northwest region of Vietnam. It gives the wine a unique and slightly spicy flavor.
The herbs and spices are added to the glutinous rice mixture before it is placed in the jar to ferment. The herbs and spices are also added to the wine after it has fermented to give it its desired flavor profile.
Specialties
– Rượu cần Tây Bắc is also known as rượu cần Mường (Muong jar wine) or rượu cần Thái (Thai jar wine), depending on the ethnic minority that makes it.
– The drink is typically drunk communally, with a group of people sharing a single jar. A long bamboo straw is used to draw the wine from the jar.
– Rượu cần Tây Bắc is a popular drink at festivals and ceremonies in the Northwest region.
– The drink is also used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments.
If you are looking for a delicious and authentic Vietnamese dish, Rượu cần Tây Bắc is a great option. It is a flavorful and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone.
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