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Why do people in the South have bitter melon soup on the Lunar New Year, while people in the North have frozen meat dish?

Have you ever wondered why people in the South always have bitter melon and people in the North have dried meat on the tray during Tet? Let's explore their meanings!

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22 January, 2024

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Meaning of bitter melon soup on Tet holiday in the South?

According to our grandparents’ belief, bitter melon soup, as its name suggests, has the meaning of hope that the difficulties and hardships of the old year will pass so that the new year will bring more luck and convenience. Especially for people in the South, where the weather is hot all year round, they often suffer from heat and bitter melon soup, with its cooling effect, helps cool and detoxify the liver extremely well.

Especially during the Tet holiday when people often gather to eat and consume alcoholic drinks like wine and beer to congratulate each other on the new year. That’s why bitter melon soup with its cooling and fiber-rich properties is so valuable. This is also the reason why bitter melon soup is always present on the Tet holiday table of people in the South.

Why does the Tet holiday table of people in the South have bitter melon soup?

Why do people in the North have frozen meat on Tet holiday?

Frozen meat is always remembered every Tet season alongside traditional dishes like banh chung, fatty meat, and pickled onions.

When it comes to frozen meat, people immediately think of the characteristic dish of the North’s winter. It is a cold dish, mainly made from pork leg, cured pork skin, stir-fried with wood ears, shiitake mushrooms, and pepper. Thanks to the collagen in the pork skin that releases, when left for a while, the stir-fried meat sets like jelly (frozen dew), it is fragrant, delicious, and refreshing to eat.

In terms of feng shui, frozen meat is a symbol of gathering and togetherness when all descendants gather together in the early days of the new year. In addition, frozen meat also represents prosperity in terms of money and fortune.

Why does the Tet holiday table of people in the North always have frozen meat?

Furthermore, due to the cold winter weather in the North, it is very suitable for the preparation of frozen meat. Therefore, during the winter days, many people believe that the origin of frozen meat comes from accidentally freezing pork leg in the cold wind at the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

In addition, on Tet holiday when people consume a lot of rich and delicious food, frozen meat is a delicious and refreshing dish that helps relieve bloating effectively. The crispness of wood ears and carrots will help you replenish fiber without overheating when using many tonic foods and drinking a lot of alcohol during Tet.