"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
"Banh Gai Tu Tru" craft village
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Introdution

Price: Updating

Phone: 0979182441

Time to visit a place: 60 phút

Open Time: 7:00 AM - Close Time: 10:00 PM

Email: yenngo.th@gmail.com

Address: xa tho dien, huyen tho xuan, thanh hoa

The land of Tho Xuan is home to many traditional craft villages, each known for its unique and special products. Among them, there is one traditional craft village famous for producing a delicious and well-known type of cake: “Banh Gai Tu Tru” The product "Banh Gai Tu Tru" originated during the Later Le period, in the 15th century. The people who created this delicious cake came from Thinh My village (now part of Tho Dien commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province). The name of the village was given by Le Loi King, reflecting the village's beautiful and prosperous landscape at that time. The village also had another name, Mia village, and was located peacefully along the Chu River. Later, the village moved inland behind the dike. At that time, the village was bustling, with boats coming and going, and it became a gathering place for artisans and craftsmen of all kinds, including bakers and those preparing offerings for the king, among which was “Banh Gai”. Today, the cake is often referred to as " Banh Gai Tu Tru " a name linked to a high-ranking official in the Le dynasty who held the title "Tu Tru" (a government position in the ... View more

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Tứ Trụ Gai Cake Village - The Traditional Flavor of Thanh Region

Tứ Trụ Gai Cake Village, also known as the Mía Village Gai Cake, is located on the peaceful right bank of the Chu River, about 9 km from Thọ Xuân town and around 1.5 km from the Lam Kinh historical site. The cake is called Tứ Trụ Gai Cake or Mía Village Gai Cake because it is made by the people of Mía Village, Tứ Trụ commune, which was once part of the Diên Hào district in the Thọ Xuân region, now located in Thọ Diên commune, Thọ Xuân district, Thanh Hóa province.

Tứ Trụ Gai Cake (Photo: Source from the Internet)

According to the people of Mía Village, the craft of making these cakes dates back to the Later Lê Dynasty in the 15th century. At that time, the cake was made for village festivals and used as an offering to the Lê King, as well as for important national ceremonies such as ancestor worship, Tết, and various ceremonies. For this reason, Tứ Trụ Gai Cake is also known as "Royal Offering Cake." Today, Tứ Trụ Gai Cake has become a popular local delicacy, drawing many visitors who stop by Thanh Hóa. It also carries a sentiment—whenever someone wants to send a piece of their warm, familiar homeland to those far away.

The process of making Tứ Trụ Gai Cake is not difficult, but it is quite elaborate in every step, from selecting ingredients, preparing them, processing the cake, and making the tools, to completing the final product. It requires seriousness, meticulousness, patience, and the experience of the baker.

A special ingredient that is indispensable, and which makes Tứ Trụ Gai Cake unique, is the gai leaf. The gai plant here grows on the banks of the Chu River, where the fertile silt enriches the soil, making it highly nutritious. The leaves have a distinct, gentle fragrance that cannot be found anywhere else. First, the leaves are harvested and the damaged ones are discarded. The workers carefully strip the stem and veins before drying the leaves until one side turns dark black and the other side becomes light gray. The dried gai leaves are then boiled thoroughly, washed, dried, and ground finely before being cooked with molasses. In the past, workers would grind the leaves manually in a mortar; the finer the grinding, the tastier the cake. Nowadays, modern machinery is often used to grind the leaves for efficiency.

Making the cake filling is also a very important step, as it determines the flavor and appeal of the cake. The filling is made from green beans, shredded coconut, sugar, and lean pork. The green beans should be plump and uniform. The beans are carefully selected, soaked in water to remove the skins, and then cooked, but with careful attention to avoid them becoming mushy or dry. Additionally, a few drops of banana essence are added to give the cake an attractive fragrance. To make the cake even better, glutinous rice from yellow-flowered varieties is used, which is fragrant and sticky. After the gai leaf mixture is cooked with molasses, it is mixed with the rice flour and molasses in the right proportions, then ground finely into a black, glossy dough. This step is crucial in determining the quality of the cake. The ratio of molasses used depends on the weather, and experienced bakers rely on their intuition to judge the perfect level of sweetness.

The Process of Making Tứ Trụ Gai Cake (Photo: Source from the Internet)

Over more than 600 years, the craft of making Tứ Trụ Gai Cake has been passed down and deeply ingrained in the local community. By always adhering strictly to the production process—from sourcing quality ingredients to ensuring food safety—the village continues to produce delicious and safe cakes. Today, the brand and logo of “Tứ Trụ Gai Cake of Thọ Diên Commune” have been recognized and protected by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Notably, Tứ Trụ Gai Cake Village was officially recognized as a traditional craft village by Decision No. 203/QĐ-UBND on January 21, 2015. In 2016, Tứ Trụ Gai Cake was honored with a certificate from the provincial People's Committee as one of Thanh Hóa’s top 10 typical products. In 2019, Lâm Thắm Gai Cake production facility was awarded a 3-star rating in the OCOP program by Decision No. 5445/QĐ-UBND on December 23, 2019. This has created a significant opportunity for the region to access state and government support policies to restore, preserve, and develop the craft village. Additionally, it has become an attractive destination for tourists visiting the ancient capital of Thọ Xuân.

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Introdution

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The land of Tho Xuan is home to many traditional craft villages, each known for its unique and special products. Among them, there is one traditional craft village famous for producing a delicious and well-known type of cake: “Banh Gai Tu Tru”

The product "Banh Gai Tu Tru" originated during the Later Le period, in the 15th century. The people who created this delicious cake came from Thinh My village (now part of Tho Dien commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province). The name of the village was given by Le Loi King, reflecting the village's beautiful and prosperous landscape at that time. The village also had another name, Mia village, and was located peacefully along the Chu River. Later, the village moved inland behind the dike.

At that time, the village was bustling, with boats coming and going, and it became a gathering place for artisans and craftsmen of all kinds, including bakers and those preparing offerings for the king, among which was “Banh Gai”. Today, the cake is often referred to as " Banh Gai Tu Tru " a name linked to a high-ranking official in the Le dynasty who held the title "Tu Tru" (a government position in the royal court), reflecting the historical connection to the region's heritage.

"Banh Gai Tu Tru" has a black, chewy, soft, and fragrant outer layer wrapped in several layers of banana leaves. Inside, it contains a filling made from a variety of ingredients combined together. The cake's glossy black exterior, once evenly wrapped around the filling, is then sprinkled with a layer of white sesame seeds to enhance its richness, visual appeal, and make it easier to peel.

For over 600 years, the craft of making "banh gai" has deeply rooted itself in the consciousness of the local people. Day by day, the rhythm of life in Mia village flows as gently as the Chu River, with the fertile soil nourishing both banks, bestowing upon the villagers enough food, clothing, and a prosperous, happy life. This is symbolized through the thin but meaningful "gai" (mulberry) leaves that wrap the cakes, carrying with them a sense of gratitude and affection. This quiet, enduring tradition is a defining characteristic of Mia village and a source of pride for the entire Thanh region. It holds a special place in the overall development of the rural communities in the midland area, one that cannot be replaced.

The specialties of different regions across the S-shaped land of Vietnam are all imbued with the flavors of hometown and the sentiments of the local people. The residents of Mia village are always eager to share their unique offerings, which can only be found here, giving visitors a truly distinctive experience when they come to explore this land. The taste of "banh gai" is forever etched in the hearts of those far from home and has also become well-known to many people from other regions across the country.

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