Gam market's wet cake is a specialty that is expensive on September 2nd holiday

Ms. Le Thi Na, one of the long-time cake makers in Gam market, Quan Thanh commune, said: “On this September 2nd holiday, we wake up at 3am every day to wash rice and grind flour. Normally, we only make about 100 kg of cakes, but on September 2nd this year, we have to make over 200 kg each day. There are so many customers that sometimes we don’t have time to stop for a meal, so we have to take turns working continuously.”

According to Ms. Na, to make delicious banh muot, the baker must be very meticulous from the stage of choosing rice - usually Khang Dan, the grains are evenly expanded, not too dry and not too sticky. The rice is soaked thoroughly in cold water, washed many times until the water is clear, then ground smoothly.

When making the cake, the maker must be familiar with the hands and eyes, pouring the batter evenly and quickly, so that the cake does not tear, is not too thick or too thin. The fire under the stove must also be kept steady, so that the steam is just right. When the cake is done, lift it out of the mold, the smell of new rice blends with the fragrant smell of fried onions, the cake layer is soft, smooth, white, dotted with a few strands of onions, just looking at it is delicious.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, owner of a large bakery also in Gam market, shared: “On this occasion, customers place orders from everywhere, from the commune to neighboring communes, some even send their vehicles to Hanoi. Those who order in advance will get cakes, those who don’t have to wait for an hour. “With nearly 20 years of experience, Ms. Nhung understands the hardships of this job: having to sit for hours in the middle of steaming pots, working without stopping, but in return is the joy when the cakes she makes are welcomed by everyone, praised as delicious, and bring in more income for the family.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh in Quan Thanh commune excitedly said: “It has become a tradition that on the occasion of National Day September 2, my children and grandchildren in the city return to their hometown to reunite. The first dish they always mention is Gam market rice cake served with chicken soup. They always insist that I go buy it. Every year, I wake up early, go to Gam market bakery to buy a few kilos to treat the whole family. All my children praise the fragrant rice cake, served with chicken soup, it is really delicious.”

If in the past, bakers had to use a charcoal stove and light firewood with difficulty amidst the pungent smoke, now with the electric boiler system, the work of making pancakes has become much easier. Not only does it save effort, the new equipment also helps increase productivity, ensuring that the pancakes are evenly cooked, look beautiful and are food safe.

The craft of making Banh Muot not only brings a stable income to many households in the region but is also the pride of the farmers here, as they diligently preserve the flavor of their homeland through each soft, fragrant, white Banh Muot. Today, Banh Muot Cho Gam has gone beyond the boundaries of the commune and district, is carefully packaged and transported by passenger vans, reaching as far as Hanoi - bringing with it the rich flavor of the rice countryside.