(Baonghean.vn) - In the natural forests of the western mountainous districts of Nghe An province, there is a type of tree that the Thai ethnic people often call the "cha uom" tree. Besides its value as timber for house construction and fuel, the fruit of this tree falls to the ground at the end of autumn, and the Thai people collect it and process it into many delicious dishes.
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| Chà uốm is a species of tree that grows abundantly in the primary forests of western Nghe An province; however, due to human impact, its numbers are gradually decreasing and it is now only found in the primary forests near the Vietnam-Laos border. |
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| Besides being used for timber and fuel, the Chà Uốm tree also bears fruit every autumn. During this time, many Chà Uốm fruits fall to the ground, so people simply collect them. The Chà Uốm fruit is round and has a hard outer shell. |
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| To use and prepare them for cooking, after picking them, people have to break the hard shell to get the kernel inside. |
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| After carefully removing the hard outer shell, the ingredients must be pounded until very finely minced with a mortar and pestle, and a little salt added before cooking. |
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| With simple preparation, this fruit has become a side dish served with sticky rice, also known as Khau Pan - a traditional mixed sticky rice dish that is both delicious and rich, much loved by the Thai people in mountainous districts such as Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, and Ky Son. |
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| Besides the dish Khau Pan, the cha uom fruit is also used as a seasoning mixed with various vegetables, fruits, and bamboo shoots to create a salad, called No May Chup, Pak Chup, etc. in the Thai language. |
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| With its delicious, nutty, and creamy flavor, the "cha uom" fruit is now not only used simply in the meals of Thai families, but is also sought after by many people as a souvenir to take home, currently selling for 50,000 VND/kg. |
Lu Phu
