Buzz
With booming technological advancements and convenient transportation, experiencing the unique and delicious local cuisine of a region is just a phone call away. However, amidst the convenience, one cannot escape the subtle complexities of contemporary sellers. Hence, if you get the chance to visit Sapa, consider purchasing delightful Sapa specialties – the misty city, as gifts for your friends and loved ones. Having 'Shippers' deliver the goods will leave you regretting the absence of the mountainous forest flavors.
Indulge in Authentic Cuisine While Exploring Sapa
After leading Sapa tours at Globaltravel for several years, I've developed distinct impressions of Sapa's specialties, which you can explore in this article. Each specialty uniquely reflects the diverse cultures of the many ethnic groups residing in Sapa. Therefore, for any tour I guide that hasn't had the opportunity to enjoy these local treats, I always make it a point to buy some as gifts. So, if you only have a short time for a 2-day, 1-night Sapa tour, consider purchasing a few characteristic specialties as gifts for friends and family. And, do try to savor the unforgettable flavors that only the local ethnic communities here can deliver.
1. Gourmet Kitchen Delight – A Perfect Gift Choice
The dish known as 'Gác Bếp' meat is crafted by the mountainous communities around Sapa with a uniquely aromatic preparation involving various spices. Particularly notable is the spiciness from Muong Khuong chili, combined with the sweet taste of fresh meat. The drying process takes 5-6 days, depending on the weather. The meat is processed while still warm, then seasoned with spices and sun-dried, followed by exposure to mist and a final drying with sugarcane husks or some forest wood and herbs.
Gác Bếp Meat – A Culinary Delight in Sapa
Gác Bếp meat, when stir-fried with sun-dried 'cải mèo' for 3 days or the 5-6 days variety buried in hot ash or microwaved and dipped in chili sauce, becomes an exquisite treat. Typically made from buffalo, horse, or pork, all are suitable. However, the renowned choice across regions, especially among Sapa tourists, is buffalo Gác Bếp meat. The outer layer appears dark brown, while the inside reveals a deep red hue. The meat is chewy, sweet, and spicy, with a distinct aroma of wood smoke.
Sapa's Specialty – Gác Bếp Buffalo Meat
The Gác Bếp buffalo meat dish from Sapa isn't just a delicious meal; it's a nutrition-packed delicacy. It serves as a hospitality dish in many local households and is particularly advantageous due to its long shelf life, thanks to the thorough drying process. Choosing this as a gift for your Sapa trip is a wise decision.
2. Sapa's Fragrant Mushrooms
Sapa is not only blessed with majestic landscapes and fresh, clean air but also boasts numerous delectable specialties from the mountainous forests, among which Sapa's fragrant mushrooms stand out. The arrival of thunder signaling the onset of early rains also marks the beginning of the mushroom season in Sapa.
Sapa's Aromatic Mushrooms
The fragrant mushroom, a heaven-sent specialty for the locals here. When you embark on a self-guided Sapa journey and choose to climb the Hoang Lien Son mountains, you can witness these mushrooms growing on blooming daisy trees, exuding a captivating fragrance. These are considered the most aromatic mushrooms in Sapa. The mushrooms here are large, crispy, chewy, and incredibly aromatic.
Sapa's Forest Scented Mushrooms
Fresh fragrant mushrooms can be used to create a variety of delicious dishes such as mushroom chicken soup, stir-fried chicken with mushrooms, mushroom soup, stir-fried beef with mushrooms, or a popular local dish: finely chopped mushrooms sautéed with meat and noodles. Besides indulging in the delicious dishes made from Sapa's fragrant mushrooms, you can also purchase dried or fresh mushrooms at the Sapa market to use gradually or as gifts.
3. Sapa's Cat Ear Greens
Cat Ear Greens, a type of leafy green vegetable with thick stems and long, dark green leaves, edges curling like thorns. There are furry and smooth varieties, with the smaller, furry-leaved cat ear greens being more delicious and crisp. Particularly, the dark green cat ear greens are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Traditionally, locals only cultivated cat ear greens for personal consumption, allowing them to grow naturally on the outskirts of fields and hills, absorbing nutrients from the soil and air without the use of chemicals.
Sapa's Cat Ear Greens
The local people in Sapa cook Cat Ear Greens in various ways: stir-fried, boiled, steamed, or used in hot pots. Typically, the simplest preparation involves chopping them finely, crushing ginger, adding water, and boiling to create a refreshing soup, perfect for accompanying alcoholic beverages. For a more elaborate dish, the greens can be cooked with minced chicken, seasoned with ginger, and balanced with just the right amount of fish sauce and salt. Diners will experience a unique combination of the sweet taste of chicken and the slightly bitter freshness of the greens, ensuring a delightful dining experience.
If you're a traveler coming from Hanoi, the travel time by car is relatively short, taking only a few hours. Before heading back, consider visiting Sapa's morning market to buy some Cat Ear Greens as gifts or to prepare a refreshing soup for your loved ones.
4. Apple Wine
For those opting for a 3-day, 2-night Sapa tour with an overnight stay, why not try a bit of Apple Wine to warm yourself up? Apple Wine is one of the renowned specialties of Sapa.
Sapa's Apple Wine
These Cat's Ear apples are soaked in 30 to 40-degree alcohol for two weeks, creating an exquisite and distinctive wine that every traveler should try. However, it takes 6 to 8 months for the wine to reach its full potential, producing a delightful and nutritious beverage.
5. Various Forest Fruits of Sapa
Being a highland town with a cool climate, Sa Pa boasts many sweet and delicious fruits that you can purchase as gifts for family and friends when traveling to Sa Pa, such as:
Nung-Styled Pears from Sapa
Nung-Styled Pears have their origins in Taiwan. While being cultivated in various locations in Lao Cai province, the Nung-Styled Pear tree proves suitable for the local soil conditions and climate, especially in districts like Bac Ha and Sa Pa. The Nung-Styled Pear blooms later than apricots and plums, avoiding the intense cold of winter. Harvesting takes place in June and July (after the apricot and plum seasons). These pears, with their refreshing sweetness, thin skin, and high water content, are favored by visitors.
Indulge in Peach Delights While Traveling to Sapa
Next up is Sapa's peaches. Sa Pa is renowned for its peach orchards, predominantly cultivating the French variety (as the local variety has nearly disappeared due to being cut down for Lunar New Year decorations). The peaches in Sa Pa are small, crispy, and slightly sour.
Bac Ha's Plums, a Sa Pa Specialty
Bac Ha plums are the sought-after fruit that every Sapa adventurer eagerly hunts during the blooming season until harvest for that perfect check-in photo. These plum trees in Sapa are often over 20 years old, specifically grown in O Quy Ho, becoming intertwined with the lives of Sa Pa residents, making them truly special. Unlike other fruits, ripe Bac Ha plums maintain a green hue but become plump and juicy, with a crisp bite and a delicious sweetness on the palate.
Hong Nhung
Posted by: Nguyen Nhat Dong
Keywords: Must-Buy Local Delicacies When Traveling to Sapa?
