CHE LAM - another special aspect of Vietnam cuisine

           Vietnam is an agriculture country, our ancestry used rice to survive.  Rice diet created chances for us to make tons of dishes, from that we even build our own food culture. We not only use rice to cook main course but also use rice to make desserts. If you visit our country, you will try pho, noodle  or spring roll, but you  seldom be showed “CHE LAM”  one of the most very Vietnamese dish that you cannot find anywhere outside Vietnam.

      From tradition, long long time ago, when our ancestry did have nothing  to worship during Tet holiday, still wanted to show their respect to Gods and their ancestry, they tried to find a special dish that is different from their normal day food, but because of the poorness, they could not afford anything. Until one day, they spotted they should use the familiar ingredients to create special dish. This way not only showed their respect to Gods, but also the respect to their own work – farming.

         Nowadays, although the machines are using to help people in order to make “CHE LAM” but it’s still really hard to make this dessert. From choosing materials to cooking, the process is complex and requires concentration from the cook. Ingredients are sticky rice, ginger, molasses and peanuts. The ingredients are listed shortly, right? But the way to make this dessert is really hard.

        Feeling the sweet from molasses, warm from the ginger, crunchy of peanut and last but not least the chewy of sticky rice, combining all of those in “CHE LAM”. You will experience a new aspect of Vietnam, rural aspect by eating this dessert.

       Talk about “CHE LAM”, we cannot forget talk about tea, a warm green tea or special tea that we call “VOI” is the best combination for a cold winter day. For any chance, if you visit Hanoi, don’t forget to ask to try this rural dessert.