Buzz
Bottle gourds perhaps seem ordinary and familiar in the market baskets of mothers and grandmothers. Yet, in Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc), afar, the bottle gourd transforms into the specialty of this mountainous region. What is it about this simple fruit that makes it such a precious gift? Only by experiencing it firsthand can one understand the essence of these Tam Dao bottle gourds.
The Northern land is renowned for its mystical legend of the Lady of Upper Forests. Here, three majestic mountains stand tall like three islands rising to touch the sky, encircling Tam Dao in a cluster. Atop these peaks, perpetual mist and clouds lend a fairytale-like ambiance. It is perhaps this ambiance that turns any gift produced here into a Tam Dao specialty. Garlic-stir-fried beef, succulent mountain chicken, but most notably, the bottle gourd plant. This plant is so alluring that it becomes the reason for people to visit Tam Dao and leave a lasting memory.
Amidst endless fields, within us, lie the lush green 'fields' of bottle gourds. This humble fruit, miraculously, is found everywhere in Tam Dao. Sprawling beyond backyard gardens, clinging to mountain slopes, or swaying along village paths. Perhaps nature has favored this place to become a true bottle gourd paradise. For only bottle gourds grown in this soil are fragrant and remarkably crisp.
Fields of bottle gourds amidst endless expanse (Photo: ST)
Nurtured sweetness from mother earth
Bottle gourds have become a Tam Dao specialty, also due to its remarkable versatility. Rarely does any vegetable offer both its stem and fruit as delectable as Tam Dao bottle gourds. Resembling a pear, with its vibrant green and glossy skin. The flesh is sweet and tender, perfect for stir-frying, boiling, making salads, or simmering with bones, each dish bursting with flavor. Especially when the gourd is just tender, retaining its crunchiness, dipped in sesame salt, it emanates a fragrant earthiness. When tired of eating it as a fruit, it can be mashed with eggs and milk to make a delicately flavored cake. Even the gourd residue is utilized as animal feed, mixed with roots and even replacing potatoes in soup.
Bottle gourds, ripe and tender (Photo: ST)
But the most enticing is the taste of boiled bottle gourd shoots. The tender, green shoots, when boiled in slightly seasoned water, are delightful. Dip the shoots in soy sauce with crushed garlic for a light yet satisfying meal. For a richer flavor, stir-fry the shoots with chicken or beef. The best meal in Tam Dao must include a plate of stir-fried bottle gourd shoots alongside simmered bone broth. With a well-mixed dipping sauce, enjoying this meal amidst the chilly weather is incomparable.
Clusters of lush bottle gourd shoots (Photo: ST)
Fresh and delicious, the locals here have developed bottle gourd cultivation extensively. Bottle gourds can be bought in any market in Tam Dao. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, bottle gourd plants thrive rapidly and remain fresh throughout the year. Long, plump, and lush green shoots are abundant year-round. The flavor of bottle gourds cooked here is even more refreshing and sweet than elsewhere. These plants grow naturally without the need for pesticides or intricate care. Visitors from afar often pack a bundle of fresh, green bottle gourds, a Tam Dao specialty, as gifts.
Tam Dao Bottle Gourds and the Bond of Affection
Following in the footsteps of the French since the early 20th century, bottle gourds have become a special gift of the locals. They accompany people to the market every morning, grace every meal. Alongside honey wine, pickled bamboo shoots, this fresh green gift soothes the soul. Thanks to bottle gourds, locals have increased their income, improved their livelihoods. They accompany people from the fields to the market, then appear in various restaurants, supermarkets nationwide. Tam Dao bottle gourds are not just a local specialty anymore, they carry the sentiments and spirit of the northern people.
Vinh Thuy - Hoang Thuy Linh couple happily beside a Tam Dao bottle gourd garden (Photo: ST)
Photographing next to lush Tam Dao bottle gourd gardens is also an interesting choice when you want to preserve memories here (Photo: ST)
