(Baonghean.vn) - These days, visiting Dong Nhat village (Hung Chau district, Hung Nguyen province) or Vinh Duc craft village (Do Luong town) - famous far and wide for its peanut brittle and peanut candy - one can feel the bustling and hectic atmosphere of the villagers in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).
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Located in Block 10, Do Luong town, Vinh Duc craft village has a long-standing tradition of making rice crackers, peanut candy, and "cu do" (a type of Vietnamese candy). Since 2009, when it was honored with the title of craft village, the villagers have become even more dedicated to this work. In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), households engaged in these crafts work day and night to meet the demands of customers both within and outside the province. |
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Peanut candy, originally made using molds lined with newspaper, has now been innovated by using rice crackers instead. The perfect combination of dry crackers and peanut candy creates a very appealing product. When enjoyed, one can feel the sweetness of molasses, the warmth of ginger, the nutty flavor of peanuts, the mild spiciness of pepper, and the delicious crispness of the rice cracker. |
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| Out of the 150 households in the craft village, 14 specialize in candy making, while the others handle the production of rice crackers to ensure timely supply. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, one of the households supplying rice crackers to candy-making establishments in the craft village, said that in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), her family has to increase production two or three times compared to normal days. |
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In Dong Nhat peanut candy village (Hung Chau commune, Hung Nguyen district), the atmosphere of making candy for Tet (Lunar New Year) is just as bustling. According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Truc and her husband, the longest-serving candy makers here, the peanut candy making profession has existed for about 60 years. Initially, only a few households made candy on a small scale to sell at the market. Later, the candy-making profession spread throughout the village, with dozens of families participating, each household producing an average of more than 30 kg of candy. |
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| Peanut candy is made in traditional craft villages using similar basic recipes; however, each locality has its own unique characteristics. If you look closely, you can see that the peanut candy from Dong Nhat village is more golden and richer in flavor than that from Vinh Duc village. Notably, the candy is layered with two layers of cake instead of one layer of sesame and one layer of cake as in Vinh Duc village. |
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| The finished cu đơ product is made in Dong Nhat village. |
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Besides peanut brittle, locals also make smaller peanut candies to suit the diverse needs of customers. |
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According to current market prices, each box of candy costs an average of 35,000 - 40,000 VND. Thanks to their dedication to the craft, the villagers have gradually stabilized their lives and become wealthy, while also contributing to preserving the traditional craft of the village. |
Thanh Quynh
