When it comes to autumn in Hanoi, one cannot forget about com, a unique feature of the city’s cuisine. In the crisp autumn weather, there’s nothing better than savoring the green com grains wrapped in lotus leaves, accompanied by a hot cup of tea.
Com is also creatively transformed into a variety of delicious dishes, such as com cakes, stir-fried com, com patties, and com lotus seed sticky rice. Each dish carries the unique flavor of com, making Hanoi’s autumn truly unforgettable.
Banh Gio
Banh gio is another irresistible autumn snack in Hanoi. Made from rice flour with a touch of glutinous rice flour, banh gio has a savory filling of pork, shallots, wood ear mushrooms, pepper, and salt.
When enjoying this treat, you’ll relish the soft and melting texture of the cake, the fragrant filling of pork and wood ear mushrooms, and the kick of ground pepper that awakens your senses. Accompany your banh gio with some pickled vegetables and chili sauce for a perfect balance of colors and flavors.
Ripe Sour Fruit
Not as sour as unripe sour fruit, nor with the astringent taste of green sour fruit, ripe sour fruit is a unique autumn delicacy in Hanoi that captivates many. In fact, this fruit is considered one of the iconic images of the capital’s autumn, as nowhere else can you find sour fruit as delicious and appealing as in this region.
The season for ripe sour fruit in Hanoi is fleeting, lasting only a few weeks. This may be why the treat is so coveted by many. As soon as the fruit starts to ripen, growers must harvest them quickly, as overripe sour fruit loses its appeal. Ripe sour fruit has a distinctive aroma and a delightful blend of sweet and sour flavors. It’s not just a popular snack but also offers numerous health benefits.
To prepare ripe sour fruit, wash and peel the fruit, then cut it into rings to expose the seeds. After that, you can either soak it in sugar syrup like unripe sour fruit or mix it with some sugar, chili powder, and salt to create a trendy afternoon snack loved by young people and office workers alike.
Hot Banh Duc
On a chilly autumn afternoon in Hanoi, don’t miss out on a bowl of hot banh duc. This humble dish, made from rice flour and infused with the savory taste of meat, has been a comfort food since ancient times. Imagine holding a warm bowl of soft and silky banh duc, seasoned with a perfect balance of salty and sweet flavors—it’s a little piece of happiness on a crisp autumn day.
Boiled Snails
On a rainy autumn evening in Hanoi, you’ll likely find yourself craving the experience of sitting in a street-side snail stall, indulging in tender and delicious snail meat.
A bowl of hot, steaming snails infused with the aroma of lemongrass, fresh kaffir lime leaves, and the spicy kick of ginger, dipped in a perfectly balanced sweet, sour, and spicy sauce—this is a quintessential autumn dish in Hanoi.
Egg Coffee
Egg coffee, a unique beverage of Hanoi, is a must-try during the autumn season. Combining robust black coffee with creamy, frothy egg yolks, egg coffee offers a sweet, fragrant, and warming experience, perfectly suited to the crisp autumn weather.
Hanoians often indulge in egg coffee during early mornings or late afternoons, as gentle breezes carry the scent of autumn. Egg coffee is more than just a beverage; it’s a cultural experience, a part of the city’s memory and history, intertwined with Hanoi’s autumns over the years. It has become an integral part of the city’s charm when autumn arrives in the corner cafes.
Sipping a hot cup of egg coffee by the window, gazing at the peaceful streets of Hanoi, will undoubtedly make you fall in love with this city all over again.
Cốm – Autumn’s Delicate Delicacy
Cốm Hà Nội is a delicate and elegant delicacy that has long been associated with the autumn season. This traditional treat is a quintessential part of Hanoi’s cultural heritage, and its unique charm deserves to be explored and celebrated. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of this iconic delicacy and uncover the secrets that make it so beloved. Join us as we embark on a journey to discover the magic of Cốm Hà Nội and explore why it has become an enduring symbol of Vietnam’s rich culinary tradition.
Taste of Autumn: Discover 4 Delicious Cốm Delicacies in Hanoi
The gentle Hanoi rain brings with it the fragrant scent of com, signaling the arrival of autumn. As the city transforms into a tapestry of golden hues, we invite you to embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Hanoi’s autumnal delights. Indulge in the unique and delectable flavors of com, as we uncover the hidden gems that encapsulate the very essence of this enchanting season.