Buzz
Exploring the rich cuisine of Sapa adds extra meaning to your visit. Blessed by nature, this place offers a plethora of delicious dishes to choose from. Let's take a look at the top specialties of Sapa to enjoy and share with loved ones when you have the chance to visit this wonderful land.
1. Fireplace-smoked Buffalo Meat
A familiar dish originating from the Black Thai people in Sapa has long been considered a staple food of the highland residents. Before the rainy season arrives, people often slaughter buffalo to smoke the meat and use it gradually or bring it along when going to the forest. The renowned fireplace-smoked buffalo meat is not only popular here but also thanks to its unique preparation method and unforgettable taste.
Fireplace-Smoked Buffalo Meat
Each piece of buffalo meat is cut into proper portions and marinated according to the unique recipe of the Northwest people. Many spices are used for this dish. From chili, salt, ginger, forest leaf water, to an indispensable ingredient, mac khen leaves. This is a special forest pepper, giving a strong, unforgettable spicy taste to the buffalo meat. After the meat has absorbed the spices, everything is hung up on the fireplace to smoke. This preservation method helps the buffalo meat last much longer.
Each piece of buffalo meat is cut into proper portions and marinated according to the unique recipe of the Northwest people
After about 8 months to 1 year, people start to bring the meat down to use gradually. The harmony between the fragrant, strong smoke aroma, the spicy taste of pepper, and the chewiness of the meat leaves a lasting aftertaste long after enjoying. It can be said that fireplace-smoked buffalo meat is an essential delicacy not to be missed when visiting Sapa.
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Because of the meticulous preparation, the price of fireplace-smoked buffalo meat is quite high, ranging from 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND per kilogram. Tourists can choose to buy fireplace-smoked buffalo meat at reputable addresses in Sapa such as Viet’s Farm, Sapa Night Market, or An Thinh store on Cau May Street.
2. Shoulder-Carried Pig
This interestingly named pig has long been familiar to people in highland areas at the periodic markets. It is called this because the pigs here are very small, weighing only about 4-5kg. That's why when villagers take them to the market, they just need to tie them with a few strings over their shoulders.
Shoulder-Carried Pig
Pigs here are mostly left to roam freely. Villagers let them forage around the area near their homes or in the forest, so they often don't get as fat as pigs raised in other areas. However, the meat of these pigs is very firm and flavorful.
Pigs here are mostly left to roam freely
This dish also has many distinctive cooking methods. From steaming, grilling, stir-frying, frying... and especially, roasted shoulder-carried pig over charcoal is very popular. These small pigs are marinated and then roasted to absorb the spices, crispy skin, and rich flavor in each bite. What makes this dish impressive is the unique spices used by the highland people.
Crispy Shoulder-Carried Pig
Banana leaves, dổi or xẻn seeds combined with green chili salt create a unique and unforgettable seasoning. Typically, 1 kg of crispy shoulder-carried pig costs around 100,000-200,000 VND. Therefore, many people choose to buy this dish as a gift or for gradual consumption. You can purchase it at highland markets such as Bac Ha, Muong Khuong, and Sin Cheng...
3. Sapa Forest Shiitake Mushroom
Sapa forest shiitake mushroom is a precious gift that nature bestows upon this land. Although its appearance does not differ from other types of shiitake mushrooms, its flavor is extremely unique. Not only delicious, but Sapa forest shiitake mushroom is also classified as a precious medicinal ingredient with many health benefits.
Sapa Forest Shiitake Mushroom
Sapa Forest Shiitake Mushroom usually thrives in the summer, after heavy rainstorms. At this time, the Hmong people will venture into the forest to hunt for mushrooms. This dish is easy to combine, enhancing the unique flavor of the dish and nourishing the body. Typically, when picking mushrooms, people will string them together into strands to dry or take them to market. Natural forest mushrooms vary in size, with thin caps and thick stems clinging to the wood. Especially, this type of mushroom, even when tightly packaged, still emits a very distinctive aroma.
Sapa Forest Shiitake Mushroom usually thrives in the summer, after heavy rainstorms
Currently, there are many types of Chinese shiitake mushrooms mixed on the market. Therefore, to avoid buying low-quality products, you should choose to buy fresh mushrooms along National Highway 4D after rainstorms or ask acquaintances in Sapa to buy them. Currently, the price of fresh mushrooms is about 300,000 VND/kg.
Sapa Stone Sprout
Stone sprout vegetables are not only found in Trang Quynh's story, but they are also a famous specialty in Sapa that you shouldn't miss. This is a type of cabbage that grows in cold climates from September to February every year.
Sapa Stone Sprout
The most prominent feature of stone sprout vegetables is that there are many young sprouts growing around, forming a tower shape. The colder the weather, the crisper and sweeter the vegetables become, making them very popular with housewives. Not only delicious, but this type of vegetable is also rich in nutrients and has the effect of restoring joints, nourishing the body, and effectively beautifying.
Sapa Stone Sprout Stir-fry
Stone sprout vegetables can be cooked in many ways. From boiling to stir-frying and pickling, they are all delicious and perfect with rice. Usually, stone sprouts are priced at around 50,000-60,000 VND per kilogram and are only available in winter, so they often sell out quickly. In Lao Cai, these vegetables are mainly grown in Bac Ha and Sapa and have only been cultivated for a few years.
5. Sapa Preserved Fruits
Preserved fruits are a familiar gift from Hanoi, but in Sapa, they also have a unique charm. The Northwest mountainous region has been blessed with many delicious fresh fruits, so preserved fruits here are also very diverse. The most outstanding ones are preserved apricots and preserved persimmons, which are incredibly delicious.
Sapa Preserved Fruits
Plums are a very common fruit in Sapa. When processed into preserved fruits, the sweet and sour taste of this dish makes it irresistible to many. Meanwhile, preserved persimmons are loved for their unique mountain forest flavor and are also considered a valuable herbal remedy for many illnesses. Choosing preserved fruits will be a meaningful gift for loved ones.
Peach Preserves
When in Sapa, you can buy original preserved fruits at specialty supermarkets or famous markets like Bac Ha Market, Cat Village Market... for about 115,000 VND per 250g box.
Mountain Cat's Kale
It can be said that the specialties of Sapa's forests always carry a lot of significance. Mountain cat's kale is a type of plant with strong vitality, good growth ability, and is especially found only in the Sapa mountainous region. This is considered a clean vegetable, a staple food in the daily meals of the H'mong people in the highlands.
Mountain Cat's Kale
Cat's kale has a very crispy, slightly bitter, and easy-to-cook taste. The locals here often use it for stir-frying, boiling, or serving with hotpot. Cat's kale is also considered a medicinal herb with the ability to treat many diseases. Typical examples include toothache relief, diuretic effects, immune system enhancement, and effective cooling. It's for these reasons that many housewives in the lowlands love this type of vegetable.
Boiled Mountain Cat's Kale
Mountain Cat's Kale is priced between 15,000-25,000 VND/kg. You can easily buy this type of vegetable at most markets in Sapa.
7. Crossed Salt of Sapa
Crossed Salt is a very popular accompanying spice of the Thai ethnic people in the Northwest mountainous region. Basically, this dipping sauce is made from very common ingredients such as chili, garlic, salt, and mac khen seeds.
Sapa's Crossed Salt
However, it doesn't stop there; this dish becomes famous for the unique variations created by the highland people. Starting from the basic base, many different ingredients are added to create a very strange taste. From fish sauce, chicken liver sauce, sour sauce, to coriander sauce... each dipping sauce is served with a different dish, elevating the main dish to another level. Additionally, crossed salt is also used with raw dishes, ensuring that consumers never experience stomach pain.
Each dipping sauce is served with a different dish
If you have the opportunity to visit Sapa, you can buy this attractive spice to use or give as a gift. Dried crossed salt is currently available at Tran Manh Quyen's establishment, A & T, Lao Chai route.
Sapa's Cat Apple Wine
Amidst the cold misty weather of Sapa, enjoying a sip of the sweet and fragrant cat apple wine along with the delicious dishes here will surely be an unforgettable experience.
Sapa's Cat Apple Wine
Cat apple is a common wild fruit in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Every autumn, the locals here begin to harvest and use them to make the renowned cat apple wine. Each plump and juicy cat apple, with its sour-sweet taste, is cleaned, soaked with sugar in a certain ratio. After about 2 weeks of soaking, the apples are preserved, drained, and soaked in wine. The wine must also be of good quality, ranging from 30-40 degrees and is usually self-made by the locals. These factors combined create the distinctive flavor of Sapa's cat apple wine as we know it.
Let the sugar soak into the apples for about 2 weeks, then preserve the apples, drain, and take them for wine soaking
When visiting Sapa, tourists can easily enjoy cat apple wine at most eateries here. Additionally, if you want to buy it as a gift, you can check out reputable liquor stores like Quoc Cuong at 74 Thach Son; Northwest liquor store at 09 Thac Bac or Northwest specialty supermarket at N1 Street, Group 3B. These are the most reputable stores in Sapa today.
9. Muong Khuong Chili Sauce
Chili sauce is a common condiment in all regions of the country. However, what makes Muong Khuong chili sauce so popular? The answer lies in the special ingredients that make up this type of chili sauce. The chili used for making the sauce must be the maize chili, only grown in the high mountainous region of Muong Khuong.
Muong Khuong Chili Sauce
Ripe red chili, with a much richer and spicier flavor than other chili varieties. During processing, the chili is ground whole, combined with many other ingredients such as basil seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon bark, rock salt, and Sapa cinnamon seeds. To reach consumers, the chili sauce must be fermented for about 2 months. The harmonious blend of mountainous forest flavors and intricate processing gives Muong Khuong chili sauce a unique and unforgettable taste.
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Travelers interested in buying Muong Khuong chili sauce as a gift can check out specialty supermarkets or visit the Sapa market, where it's priced at around 100,000-150,000 VND/500ml.
Sapa Peach
Few places boast the abundance of produce like Sapa. Thanks to its temperate climate, Sapa is renowned for its plethora of delicious fruits. And the Sapa peach is undoubtedly a gift that cannot be overlooked if you happen to visit Sapa.
Sapa Peach
There are many different varieties of peaches here, from Hmong peaches to French peaches to Yunnan peaches... But due to the way they are harvested and carried in bamboo baskets, locals affectionately call them 'peach baskets'. Peaches are sold abundantly along the roadsides into town, so you can easily buy them to enjoy on your journey. The peaches are large, round, covered in a fine fuzz, with a sweet, slightly tart taste and a very distinctive aroma.
10. Sapa Delicacies
This fruit typically costs around 20,000-50,000 VND per kilogram. Since it's a cold climate fruit, if you plan to buy it as a gift, make sure to store it in a cool place and avoid using plastic bags if you don't want the peaches to spoil quickly.
Above are the most distinctive specialties of Sapa that you can both enjoy on the spot and bring back as meaningful gifts for your loved ones. We hope our suggestions will help you have a fulfilling and joyful trip to Sapa.
A Captivating Destination
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O Quy Ho Pass – Where the sky meets the heart of people
Swing Sapa: The brand new check-in spot dubbed the “Place where love begins”
Silver Waterfall Sapa – A stream pouring silver into the heart of Muong Hoa stream
Dragon Jaw Mountain – An enchanting destination with a fairy-like beauty
Love Market Sapa – Where love binds deeply, enduringly between couples
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Author: Trinh Xuan Duong
Keywords: Top 10 specialties from Sapa to buy as gifts
