H’Mong round sticky rice cakes in northwest Vietnam
VOV.VN - Giay (round sticky rice) cakes have long been an indispensable part of H’Mong cuisine in Vietnam’s northwestern region.
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| The Kinh often make giay cakes for festive occasions like the Lunar New Year. Their round shape symbolizes heaven, based on a legend dating back thousands of years. Making giay cakes is a community activity that enhances unity. |
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| The H’Mong of northwestern Vietnam make giay cakes for their traditional new year festival, new rice festival, and going-to-the-field festival. |
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| The H’Mong also make the cakes for important family events and as a specialty to sell to tourists. |
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| The rice used to make giay cakes is harvested at the beginning of the season on terraced fields. |
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| The locals use banana leaves to wrap the cakes. |
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| Cake pounding is done using a mortar made from hardwood. |
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| Men are usually in charge of the physical demanding work of pounding, flipping, and smashing the sticky rice. |
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| Women are responsible for the remaining. |
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| H’Mong men are just as skillful as the women in cutting leaves to wrap the cakes. |
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| When pounded, the rice gets stickier. |
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| The cakes have the distinctive taste and scent of the northwestern region. |
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| Giay cakes play an important role in the life of the H’Mong living in the northwestern region. |
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| The rice harvested from terraced fields provides the distinctive flavor and aroma of the giay cakes of the H’Mong. |
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| Making giay cakes for festivals is one way the locals promote unity. |