1Introducing green bean fruit cake
It is not a coincidence that when mentioning Kinh Ky, many people immediately think of cakes such as Hue nam cake, Hue tapioca cake, Hue sour shrimp roll cake…. Because all of them are made with the same meticulousness. , sophisticated and meticulous in every step of preparation. Among them, green bean and fruit cake has bold royal cuisine mixed with a bit of natural color and poetry, captivating many people who enjoy it.
Green bean and fruit cake originated from Hue royal cuisine. This Hue delicacy is called “noble” cake by the people here because the artisans have to spend a lot of effort to make a cake. In the past, green bean and fruit cakes were often only used at banquets of Kings at the Royal Palace or in the family feasts of mandarins and nobles on holidays.
The ingredients for making green bean fruit cake are extremely simple with the main ingredients being shelled green beans, jelly powder and some vegetables and fruits for decoration. However, in contrast to the preparation of ingredients, the baking stage requires the diligence and creativity of each artisan to ultimately produce miniature “versions” of fruit. Making it difficult for anyone who has the opportunity to take a look at it to not be able to help but be fascinated by the delicate beauty of this cake.
See more: The elaborate craft of making five-colored it cakes from Hue
Green bean and fruit cake originated from Hue royal cuisine and was often only used at banquets of ancient Kings.
The first time they saw fruit green bean cake, many people certainly had to admire how beautiful the cake was. Some people even wondered if this was food or a toy because the cake looked exactly like mini fruits and had very eye-catching colors. The cake is beautiful, delicious, and carries a long-standing spiritual value, so to this day, green bean fruit cake is still a familiar dish to the people of Hue in particular and the Central region in general.
Unlike regular green bean cakes that leave the original yellow color of the beans, fruit green bean cakes will be covered with a layer of jelly and finally a layer of natural food coloring to preserve and create the most realistic fruit-like shape. .
Because it is typically made from cooked green beans, the cake is much moister and softer than regular green bean cake. That’s why cakes take a lot of effort to preserve. Usually each batch of cakes can only be kept for about 3-4 days after completion and always needs to be kept in a cool place.
Depending on each type of fruit, the baker can mix colors to make it vivid and beautiful
2Green bean and fruit cake is created through the talented hands of artisans
2.1 The process of making green bean and fruit cake is extremely meticulous
To have a beautiful green bean and fruit cake requires going through many different stages. Green beans are carefully selected, then soaked in hot water, opened to remove the skin to get the kernel, cooked and then pureed. Add sugar according to the available quantity to the ground bean mixture, stir well while cooking for about 4 hours so that the mixture has moderate moisture and makes it easy to shape many different fruits.
After kneading, roll each ball into a ball, stick a wooden stick into the top of the cake and dip it into the sugar-free jelly mixture to create a protective layer before coloring. Finally, to create a complete fruit cake, use natural food coloring to make it look like real fruit. Bring that batch of cakes to dry for about 5-6 hours to facilitate the color of the cakes.
To have a beautiful green bean and fruit cake requires going through many different stages
2.2 Create vivid, beautiful images
Depending on each type of fruit, the baker can mix colors to make it vivid and beautiful. It is a mixture of many colors. If the process of preparing ingredients and shaping takes a long time, creating color for the cake requires care and meticulousness.
To create eye-catching colors and fruit flavors for cakes, talented artisans in ancient times took advantage of a number of colors available in nature. A little pink and purple from beets, orange from carrots, green from pineapple, bright yellow from turmeric and countless ways to create color depending on creative inspiration or available ingredients.
From the preparation step to the shaping stage, we can see the talent of the artisans here
The completed green bean and fruit cake must meet visual requirements with a glossy appearance and bright colors. A delicious cake not only makes people fall in love with its beauty, but when eaten, it also has a blend of the sweetness of the green beans and the toughness of the jelly layer on the outside.
Indeed, only when observing with our own eyes the process of making green bean and fruit cakes, from preparation to shaping, can we see the talent of the artisans here. The pervasive aroma of green beans along with the greasy taste, supple frozen skin and sweet sugary taste makes anyone who enjoys it fall in love with the tiny, lovely fruit green bean cakes.
These lovely little green bean cakes are created by the talented hands of Hue artisans
3Childhood cakes of Hue people
Like Tò He, green bean and fruit cake seems to preserve a part of the childhood memories of countless generations growing up in the land of the Ancient Capital. The entire childhood of the people here is wrapped up in funny green bean and fruit cakes. Every weekend my mother takes me to the market and asks to buy this cake. When I got it in my hand, I regretted it and didn’t want to eat it because it was so beautiful.
Although it is a snack, green bean and fruit cake is full of nutrition. With green bean filling, it is extremely good for health and has a cooling effect, suitable for everyone, especially children and the elderly. Nowadays, many different snacks appear in Hue, but green bean and fruit cakes still naturally endure over the years.
Like Tò He, green bean and fruit cake seems to preserve a part of the childhood memories of many generations
Visitors to Hue can find this type of cake at Dong Ba market or Luc Bo cultural space with prices ranging from 20,000 VND – 30,000 VND. Just looking at it is enough to see how attractive the green bean and fruit cakes are. When eaten, diners will be fascinated by the cakes with beautiful shapes and glossy colors.
Take a sip of bitter tea, bite a delicious piece of cake. Then slowly feel the melting of the soft and smooth bean paste on the tip of the tongue, followed by the crunchiness of the jelly, making everyone who enjoys it immerse themselves in the delicious, sweet taste typical of Hue’s traditional royal cake. when?
Visitors to Hue can find this type of cake at Dong Ba market or Luc Bo cultural space at affordable prices.
Because the processing is extremely elaborate and requires the talent of the artisan, there are currently quite a few families in Hue who keep the profession of making this green bean and fruit cake. However, if you have the opportunity to visit the dreamy land of Hue, don’t forget to find a place to enjoy it and buy it as a gift for relatives and friends. Surely that will be an extremely meaningful specialty of the land of the Ancient Capital given to every tourist who comes here. See more experiences of traveling to Hue on your own to discover many other attractive dishes when visiting Hue!
