Western Region, the Season of Ripe Lips

Wandering through the southwestern region of Nam Bo, I visited a rural area in An Giang province and spotted a child with lips stained dark. Upon inquiry, the child replied: 'Oh moi.' It suddenly struck me, April is the season of ripe lips.

Exploring An Giang During the Season of Ripe Lips

Although no one intentionally plants them, Oh Moi trees can be found everywhere in the southwestern region of Nam Bo. They go unnoticed until the blooming season and the ripening of fruits. Perhaps it's due to their beautiful flowers and peculiar-shaped fruits.

Though considered wild fruits, Oh Moi holds a special place in the memories of many people in the Western Region. In their childhood, anyone who grew up there must have tasted the fragrant Oh Moi fruits, reminiscent of the rustic scent of the countryside, the sweetness of the plains, and the riverside breeze.

With the arrival of spring, Oh Moi trees shed their leaves, heralding the arrival of the Oh Moi flower season. The beautifully pink flowers bloom in clusters, adorning the branches across the landscape.

At this time, the once green Oh Moi fruits are transitioning to black, signaling the onset of the ripe fruit season. Concurrently, it's also the season when Oh Moi trees sprout new leaves and bear young fruits.

Towards the end of the Oh Moi flower season, around April, as new leaves and fruits emerge, last season's fruits begin to ripen. When Oh Moi fruits ripen, both the peel and the pulp inside turn black.

An average Oh Moi fruit is approximately 60cm long, requiring it to be sliced into sections for consumption. Afterwards, the peel on both sides is removed with a knife, and then the remaining flesh of the fruit is easily extracted by pushing it back and forth a few times with the fingers.

The flesh of the Oh Moi fruit is arranged into uniformly thin, round segments covered by a layer of black honey, offering a sweet, slightly spicy taste with a pleasant aroma. Each segment contains a yellow seed on one side.

The heart-shaped Oh Moi seed is edible after being soaked in hot water to remove the seed coat. According to traditional medicine, Oh Moi fruit is highly medicinal, aiding digestion and promoting gastrointestinal health. Oh Moi soaked in alcohol is known for its easy digestibility and its effectiveness in relieving back pain and joint fatigue.

In the ripe Oh Moi season in the Western Region, encountering trees laden with ripe fruits along the roadside, I inquired about purchasing them, but the landowner chuckled and said, 'Oh dear, there's no wholesale here. Just pick the fruits freely from the trees. Don't climb, the tall trees are quite dangerous'...

And I also stumbled upon this countryside delicacy being sold at a corner of the market for just a few thousand dong per fruit...

According to Tuoi Tre Newspaper

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Reference: Travel Handbook by Mytour