Discovering the Essence: Top 7 Souvenirs to Delight Your Loved Ones on Lý Sơn Adventure

Lý Sơn Garlic proudly stands as a geographical label for a special variety of garlic cultivated in the island district of Lý Sơn. Enriched by distinctive soil nutrients and the heritage of traditional farming techniques (combining mountain stones from Thới Lới and sea sands layered on fields every season), local farmers yield a garlic with a uniquely mild spiciness, setting it apart from others.

Characterized by its small, firm bulbs, delightful aroma, and therapeutic properties—such as combating sweaty palms, alleviating colds and flu, easing fatigue and soreness, improving digestion, soothing gastric discomfort, regulating blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol levels... Additionally, you can seek out black garlic - a golden gift for health, perfect for presenting to your beloved ones. For utmost authenticity, procure garlic and onions directly from local households.

Sea Anemone is a gelatinous organism with a fluffy appearance, adorned with sharp spikes, often found in coral-rich or seaweed-filled regions. Capturing sea anemones requires meticulous effort; fishermen must carefully select rocky areas and use iron hooks to extract them, lest they get pricked by its spines, causing discomfort and pain.

Renowned for its delectable and distinct flavor when prepared in various dishes, sea anemone has become a delicacy of Ly Son Island, commonly served to guests. Some signature dishes made from this marine creature include raw sea anemone with mustard greens, grilled with scallion oil, steamed with eggs in water bath, and braised with hot rice. Even simpler dishes like sea anemone porridge are worth mentioning for their deliciousness. You can purchase this delicacy at seafood markets or directly from local fishermen after their fishing trips.

An unmissable delicacy when visiting Ly Son is the Fish Sausage. Ly Son Fish Sausage is made from fresh red-fleshed fish. As soon as the fish is brought ashore, it is sent to processing facilities to make sausages. The entire processing procedure is done manually: The fish is cleaned, and its flesh is separated from the bones using a spoon. Then, the fish flesh is placed in a basin, seasoned with garlic, pepper, salt, and MSG, then kneaded by hand until it forms a firm and cohesive mixture.

The essential elements that make up this 'very Ly Son' fish sausage are the use of fresh, unmarinated fish. Fresh fish ensures that the resulting sausage has a beautiful pinkish-white color, is fragrant, and has a chewy texture. The second crucial factor that defines Ly Son fish sausage is the presence of Ly Son garlic! Those who make fish sausage in Ly Son adhere to a principle: Only Ly Son garlic is used as a seasoning for the sausage. It is known that mixing fresh fish with Ly Son garlic emits a fragrant aroma even before frying or steaming. Using different garlic will greatly diminish the flavor.

Thorn Leaf Dumplings are a familiar countryside delicacy for many. They are also one of the nostalgic specialties for tourists visiting Ly Son.

The dumplings are wrapped in banana leaves, flattened in shape. The filling is made from roasted and crushed peanuts or mashed green beans mixed with sugar. The dumplings are steamed in a pot like sticky rice. From the moment the water boils until the dumplings are cooked, it takes about an hour. When eating, one cannot hastily peel off the banana leaf. It must be carefully unraveled into individual strands to prevent the dumpling from sticking to the leaf. The dumpling emerges blackish, smooth like a jelly slice. It has the sweet taste of sugar, the fragrant chewiness of glutinous rice and banana leaves, and the nutty flavor of the bean filling. It is not overly sweet.

The dumplings can be kept for many days without worrying about mold. If left for a long time, they may dry out, and people can grill them over charcoal, causing the dumplings to puff up, still delicious. Or they can be fried again to make them soft, with a distinct delicious taste.

Sun-Dried Cowfish is a type of dried fish that the people of Ly Son can enjoy all year round. Even when the sun is shining brightly, sun-dried cowfish remains a favorite dish, let alone during rainy weather. This is also a famous specialty of this beautiful island.

After being caught, the fish will be carefully selected, choosing the big and beautiful ones. The fresh fish is skinned, and the white meat inside is extracted, seasoned, dried under the sun, pressed into round cakes, and then packaged. This is a favorite dish for many families, often used for parties, and enjoyed with a cold beer. What could be better?

This vegetable resembles duck feet, hence its name. Duck Feet Jelly Leaf usually adheres to the surface of rocks or coral reefs. It is most abundant from March to September. People often harvest this vegetable by hand, and a single pull is enough to collect it.

After harvesting, the Duck Feet Jelly Leaf is cleaned of algae and impurities. Then it is soaked in water multiple times before being dried. After numerous processes, we finally have the Duck Feet Jelly Leaf that you see sold everywhere in Ly Son. Obtaining the raw material is quite a task, and preparing it as a dessert is no simple matter. However, Duck Feet Jelly Leaf is mild, fragrant, and nutritious. It can be used to cool the body, detoxify, lubricate the intestines, nourish malnourished children, or provide nourishment for the sick.