Not only is Cao Bang blessed with majestic mountains, forests, rivers and streams, it also attracts tourists with its unique culinary culture that only this land has. If you are still wondering which Cao Bang specialties to buy as gifts, Travellive suggests the following famous specialties that are delicious, nutritious, cheap and unique.
1. Chinese sausage
Chinese sausage is one of the typical dishes of the Northern mountainous region and Cao Bang is processed very elaborately. The filling of the sausage is made from tenderloin, lean shoulder or lean rump, minced and marinated with many spices, including honey leaves and mountain ginger. Then put in pig intestines, then dried in the sun for about 3 days, continue to hang on the roof of the kitchen to smoke to make it firmer and tastier.
The smoke from the wood stove makes the sausage firmer and more elastic. The sausage can be eaten with a number of dishes such as sticky rice, white rice...
Lap xuong is one of the typical dishes of the northern mountainous region.
2. Chongqing chestnuts
Trung Khanh chestnuts are grown in Trung Khanh - a small district in Cao Bang province, located close to the Chinese border. Trung Khanh's land is inherently fertile, especially suitable for producing chestnuts that are fatty, round, and have a stronger aroma than regular chestnuts.
Chestnuts can also be processed in many different ways: roasted, steamed or ground into flour to make cakes. In addition, chestnuts can also be stewed and cooked into delicious and attractive soups that you can enjoy.
Cao Bang has a cool climate and natural soil, so chestnuts in Trung Khanh are abundant and delicious.
3. Rice cake
This is a cake that many people choose every time Tet comes to spring. Banh Khao is made from extremely simple ingredients. The cake crust is made from sticky rice flour and sugar, the cake filling has peanuts, sesame seeds and fatty meat. Along with that, it is prepared by the skillful hands of the workers to create a very special cake for this land. There is nothing better than taking a bite of Banh Khao and sipping a sip of fragrant tea. Coming to Cao Bang province, you can buy delicious Banh Khao in Trung Khanh, Quang Hoa, Ha Lang districts...
Banh Khao is made from very simple ingredients.
4. Black jelly
Cao Bang black jelly is one of the familiar and rustic dishes for the local people here. The appearance of black jelly is quite similar to the grass jelly we often eat, but black jelly is made from a plant of the same name that is grown a lot in the Thach An area. Few people know that black jelly is one of the medicinal herbs with a cool, sweet taste and has the effect of stabilizing blood pressure to treat colds as well as bone and joint pain. After a tiring journey of exploring Cao Bang, there is nothing better than enjoying a bowl of black jelly mixed with sweet sugar water.
Black jelly brings many health benefits
5. Cellophane noodles
Phia Den vermicelli is also known as Cao Bang vermicelli or Nguyen Binh vermicelli. The vermicelli is large and not as shiny as other common vermicelli, but it attracts diners with its pure deliciousness. Phia Den vermicelli is made entirely from red arrowroot tubers grown on the mountain slopes in Nguyen Binh district. Each vermicelli strand is extremely soft and chewy, not sticky.
After harvesting, red arrowroot tubers are dried on bamboo mats, without using bleach, colorants or any other chemicals. When cooked, the vermicelli noodles are soft, fragrant, clear, chewy, sweet, very delicious and good for health.
Phia Den vermicelli is made entirely from red arrowroot tubers grown on the mountain slopes in Nguyen Binh district.
Cellophane noodles can be processed into different dishes. Black noodles are very good for your health and also help you recover quickly from diabetes and high blood fat. The noodles are also very suitable for dieters with their natural sweetness.
6. Banh bo
It seems that the specialties in Cao Bang area are mainly snacks, and banh bo is no exception. This is considered a specialty dish with golden banh bo pieces along with the rustic honey flavor that makes anyone who stops here fall in love with this dish.
From the outside, the cake looks like a sponge cake made from wheat flour, but this dish is made from rice, yeast, and rock sugar. The cake is chewy and spongy, with a sweet taste of rock sugar and a light aroma of yeast, creating a soft cake. The cake has a light sweet taste, a slightly spongy yellow crust, and a soft, smooth inside. The cake is made in a large mold and then cut into bite-sized pieces. When it reaches the buyer, it is still hot, making it extremely suitable to eat on cold days.
From the outside, banh bo looks like a sponge cake.
