Going to Bao La market amidst “chá” bamboo shoot season

6/13/2018 - 2:55:55 PM

(HBO) - Ending the bitter bamboo shoot season, after heavy rains, Thai ethnic minority people in Bao La commune (Mai Chau district) prepare to go to high mountains covered by white clouds to find wild-growing "chá” bamboo shoot - a specialty in the locality, which is as big as a finger of an adult. Therefore, it is also called "finger" shoot.

A woman is purchasing "chá” bamboo shoots in a market in Bao La commune (Mai Chau district)

"Chá” bamboo shoots sold in the market are wrapped in bundles, with the finger-sized bamboo shoots, which are about 20cm in length.

We stopped in front of Mrs. Ha Thi Nhua’s basket of shoots in Van hamlet, Pieng Ve commune. After two days of digging bamboo shoots on mountain slopes, today, along with bags of tomatoes, and papaya flowers, Nhua brought nearly 20 bunches of bamboo shoots to the market. Bundles of bamboo shoots are sold at 10,000 VND/bunch.

"I do not know what they are called in the plain region, but here we call them ‘chá’ bamboo shoots”. This kind of bamboo shoot wildly grow on mountains with only one crop a year, and each crop lasts 2-3 months,” she said.

The "chá” bamboo shoots grow at the end of the bitter bamboo shoot season when it rains along with wet weather. "This is the best kind of bamboo shoot here”, Nhua said.

To farmers in communes in the region, from ancient times, the "chá” bamboo shoot is very familiar.

Mr. Ha Van Hoan, in Bao hamlet, Bao La commune, said the "chá” bamboo shoots wildly grow in high areas. For a long time, local farmers have cut the trees to fence. In this area, the shoots grow in some mountain ranges such as Bao La, Cun Pheo, especially in Ve and Van hamlets in Pieng Ve commune.

"We often cook popular foods from the bamboo shoots, mainly boiled or baked and eat with salt, or make soup. No matter how it is cooked, it has its own flavour, unlike other types of bamboo shoots,” Hoan said.

The Bao La market usually disperses at about 10:00. We were fortunate to buy some bunches of bamboo shoots. Indeed, this is a delicious food.

If they are not boiled, the bamboo shoots are slightly bitter and a little sweet. Those who cannot eat bitter bamboo shoots can still enjoy the "chá” bamboo shoots./.

The Program Organizing Committee informed the delegates about the potential and advantages of Hoa Binh

During the two days of November 14th – 15th, at the Provincial Cultural Palace, the Department of Industry and Trade organized a conference to connect the product consumption of the ethnic minorities and the mountainous areas in 2024. There was the attendance of the representatives of leaders of a number of departments, branches, businesses, manufacturers and distributors inside and outside the province.

OCOP programme transforms Lac Son’s rural economy

The One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme is reshaping the rural economy of Lac Son district, helping improve living standards, particularly among the ethnic minority communities in remote areas of Lac Son district.

Mai Chau district eyes turning Van Mai dam xanh fish into an OCOP product

The Van Mai dam xanh (Bangana lemassoni) fish has long been famous for its unique and delicious flavour, earning a spot on the menus of many restaurants and attracting food connoisseurs. In recent years, residents in Van Mai commune, Mai Chau district, have expanded their fish farming areas and striven to build a strong reputation for their product. They are also working to establish it as an OCOP (One Commune, One Product) item to increase their income.

Hoa Binh works to promote outstanding rural industrial products

Outstanding rural industrial products of Hoa Binh province in 2024 were recently honoured and granted certificates, becoming a source of pride for producers and also a boost for local economic development. The honourees are all deeply imbued with the local cultural identity and boast considerable commercial potential, helping popularise the image of Hoa Binh to domestic and international consumers. This is also a solid stepping stone for rural industrial establishments to develop.

Hoa Binh city effectively implements labour export tasks

In the first 10 months of 2024, Hoa Binh city made significant progress in job creation and labour exports, sending 112 workers abroad through partnerships with authorised recruitment firms.

Mai Chau’s bangana lemassoni fish receives official brand certification

An award ceremony to announce the official certification for Mai Chau district’s Bangana lemassoni fish, a specialty of the locality because of its unique flavour, was held recently in the district.