Unusual Dish from Soil in Vinh Phuc

Vietnam is home to numerous delicious dishes, some of which are renowned worldwide, bringing pride to the Vietnamese people. Among them, Vinh Phuc offers an incredibly peculiar dish made from clay soil.

Unusual Dish from Soil in Vinh Phuc

In Lập Thạch town, Lập Thạch district, Vinh Phuc province, there exists a very peculiar village known for its tradition of eating soil. Although nowadays soil consumption is not as common as before, many elderly people still consider clay to be a favorite delicacy, an essential part of life. Clay is a type of soil that is white and green like chalk and has veins around it.

This piece of clay serves as the 'prologue' of the story for the people of Lập Thạch. Many pregnant women also tend to crave this dish, especially during times of scarcity and poverty in the past. Visitors from afar are curious about this strange dish, but not everyone dares to try it the first time.

The clay dish from Vinh Phuc can be eaten raw immediately after being dug up, but to obtain its enticing flavor, it requires several meticulous processing stages. To dig up the soil, one must dig down into the ground from 3 to 4 meters. The clay is then processed by removing impure sand, cut into small, bite-sized pieces.

Crucial in the processing stage is sourcing the ingredients for the smoking phase. Locals venture into the forest to gather sim leaves, especially the flatbread sim leaves, which contribute to the dish's aromatic flavor. They then burn the leaves and smoke the clay in the fragrant fumes.

To achieve the desired clay piece, attention must be paid during smoking to ensure the fire is not too large, only sufficient to generate rising smoke. One hand holds the basket, while the other adjusts the pile of sim leaves to produce ample smoke until the clay pieces turn color and the aroma spreads.

The edible clay comes in two colors: milky white like bread and green like lam tea. Young, healthy individuals can consume the green clay, while the elderly only eat the milky white clay. The green clay has a stronger taste but is harder.

About 20-30 years ago, clay was widely sold in markets like vegetables and meat to cater to enthusiasts. Hence, Lập Thạch used to be a major supplier of clay to many localities within and outside of Vinh Phuc province.

 As per Mytour

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour