Buzz
1. Grilled Mountain Pork Skewers
The farming method in Tam Dao involves feeding the pigs with natural vegetables and fruits, without relying on industrial feed. This approach results in high-quality meat that is clean and safe for consumption. The combination of the natural environment and diet contributes to the unique flavor and texture of Tam Dao pork, making it a beloved local specialty.
To enjoy grilled mountain pork skewers, simply visit one of the many restaurants around the hills. After a short wait, you’ll be served a fragrant skewer of grilled pork, accompanied by a special dipping sauce, allowing you to immediately savor the delicious taste of this local delicacy.
2. Tam Duong Pineapple
In Tam Duong, you can visit the pineapple orchards and enjoy fresh fruit directly from the farm. You can either peel and eat the pineapple right there or drink freshly pressed pineapple juice made by crushing the fruit. It's the perfect spot to indulge in the delicious and unique flavors of the fruit, while also exploring the rich diversity of the area. Additionally, you can purchase Tam Duong pineapple jam to bring home as a souvenir for your loved ones after your visit to Tam Dao.
3. Grilled Ant-Burnt Beef
The flavor of grilled ant-burnt beef varies depending on the type of ants used. If the meat has a fragrant and sour taste, it’s due to the red fire ants; if it has a sweet and spicy flavor, it’s from the black ants. The beef is grilled rare and then thinly sliced, served with green bananas, Vietnamese coriander, and a special corn soybean sauce, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.
4. Vinh Tuong Sugar Cane Honey Cake
The Vinh Tuong sugar cane honey cake is a large, pointed-shaped treat made with Tân An sugar cane honey. When you bite into it, you’ll immediately experience the sweet taste of the honey, combined with the chewy, sticky texture of the dough that has been carefully kneaded.
The flavor of Vinh Tuong's sugar cane honey cake is a perfect balance between the natural sweetness of the honey and the elasticity of the dough, with a slowly melting sensation that fills your mouth. This creates a unique and unforgettable tasting experience that makes it nearly impossible to resist the deliciousness of this local delicacy.
5. Shoulder-Carried Pig
Shoulder-carried pigs can be cooked in numerous ways, including grilling, steaming, stir-frying with lemongrass, and even as a blood pudding. Regardless of the preparation, the meat always offers a sweet, savory flavor that reflects its natural, wild upbringing. The distinctiveness and authenticity of shoulder-carried pigs contribute to a captivating culinary tradition, showcasing the uniqueness of Vinh Phuc's food culture.
6. Chit Worm Wine
The Tam Dao National Park is a breathtaking landscape of towering mountains, countless streams, and vast forests interspersed with pristine groves. One of the unique features of this mountainous region is the chit grass forest. While reed grass grows on the higher hills, chit grass thrives along the streams, covering the fertile plains. The chit plant has several uses, including wrapping cakes, making brooms, and producing a rare culinary delicacy: chit worms. These worms are a prized food source and tonic, often compared to the 'Dong Chong Xia Cao' used in Chinese traditional medicine.
Chit worms from Tam Dao are not just a rare food but also a nutritional powerhouse, offering health benefits, particularly for those recovering from malnutrition. The steamed chit worms combined with egg yolks create an exceptional dish that is as nourishing as it is unique. This delicacy is especially beneficial for children and the elderly, promoting health recovery and strengthening the immune system. The combination provides both the distinct flavor of Tam Dao and vital nutrients for the body.
7. Milk Ginseng
Milk ginseng fruit is oval-shaped with a yellow skin adorned with purple stripes, smooth and thin. Its subtle and pleasant fragrance invites you to peel it, revealing the vibrant yellow flesh. With a sweet, light taste and a refreshing aroma, this fruit makes for an excellent choice for a dessert or refreshing snack on hot days.
Milk ginseng offers a unique experience, blending the flavors of cantaloupe and sapodilla. Its flesh resembles golden melon: soft, tender, and small enough to be eaten whole without needing to remove the seeds.
Milk ginseng doesn’t require much preparation to enjoy. Simply peel the skin, and you’re ready to savor its delightful taste. The fruit’s exterior may resemble a small eggplant, but its flavor is more like cantaloupe with hints of sapodilla. This is definitely a one-of-a-kind culinary experience from the Tam Dao region.
For the sweetest taste, it’s recommended to buy the smaller, rounder milk ginseng fruits.
8. Ngoc Hoa's Coconut Wine
When visiting Tam Dao, one experience you cannot miss is tasting the Ngoc Hoa Coconut Wine. Whether you drink a little or a lot, the unique flavor of this coconut wine will not only intoxicate you but also charm you with its delicious taste, perfectly complementing the stunning beauty of Tam Dao. Ngoc Hoa Coconut Wine is more than just a drink – it is a delicate blend of natural ingredients derived from coconuts. The wine is made through a special fermentation process using whole coconuts and a secret recipe passed down by the locals of Tam Dao. This fermentation process results in a distinct flavor that will satisfy all your senses.
The coconuts used for the wine must be carefully selected and are exclusively sourced from Ben Tre, ensuring that the coconut meat is thick and rich. The coconut oil within the fruit plays a significant role in influencing the flavor of the wine during the fermentation process.
When you sip on Ngoc Hoa Coconut Wine, you won't experience the usual headaches associated with many other types of alcohol. Instead, the smooth taste, combined with the pleasant aroma of the fermented rice and coconut meat, creates a unique and enjoyable experience.
9. Tam Dao Steamed Rolls
When we think of steamed rolls, we often picture the traditional version with a thin rice flour wrapper, soaked and steamed, filled with savory fillings. However, Tam Dao Steamed Rolls offer a unique culinary experience compared to the ones from the plains. Tam Dao Steamed Rolls are not only distinctive for their smooth and delicate rice flour wrappers but also feature wild boar meat that is grilled to perfection, adding a rich and savory flavor. The combination of the thin, soft dough, aromatic grilled wild boar, and a special dipping sauce makes Tam Dao Steamed Rolls an irresistible delicacy.
With Tam Dao Steamed Rolls, you will not only enjoy the refined and unique flavors but also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the highland Tam Dao region. Each bite of this dish is like a cultural and culinary journey that brings you closer to the beauty and flavors of this breathtaking land.
What makes it even better is the freshly grilled wild boar meat, golden and crispy, that gives the dish an irresistible texture. The chewy meat from the wild boar elevates the taste to another level, creating a truly unforgettable experience.
10. Su Su Vines
Su Su is a unique plant native to the Tam Dao region, and the Su Su season here stands out from other parts of the country. Unlike other provinces where Su Su grows sporadically, in Tam Dao, nearly every family grows and sells this vegetable. This creates a vivid and colorful scene, making Tam Dao a must-visit destination for anyone looking to taste this special produce.
During the summer, as you set foot in Tam Dao, you’ll be struck by the cool and peaceful atmosphere created by the lush green Su Su plants. The entire area is covered in vibrant green, purifying the air and reducing dust and toxins. Not only is Tam Dao a place for fresh, delicious Su Su, but it’s also a haven of fresh greenery that makes the mountainous environment clean and balanced.
The Su Su in Tam Dao has a naturally sweet flavor, and its crisp texture is a real treat for the taste buds. The Su Su shoots can be boiled and served with salt and sesame, fish sauce with lime, or stir-fried with garlic. However, to fully appreciate the natural sweetness of this vegetable, you should definitely try the boiled Su Su dish.
