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A: Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of VOV 24/7’s“Food delight”. We’re A and B. We’re very happy to be on the air with you.
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B: Hello A, hello you guys. Tet is just around the corner. That’s why we’re about to introduce to you a very special, traditional, and irreplaceable cake for the Tet Holidays. Hey, A, can you guess what I’m talking about?
A: Oh, come on B, It’s as easy as pie. You’re definitely talking about Chung Cake- a staple of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The cake is made from very simple and basic ingredients such as glutinous rice, fatty pork, and green beans. Then the cake is wrapped in Dong leaves, which gives the rice a green color after boiling.

The cake is made from very simple and basic ingredients such as glutinous rice, fatty pork, and green beans. (Source:vietq.vn)

B: Nowadays, especially in big cities, the rhythm of modern life prevents people from making Chung Cakes at home as the process is quite time-consuming.
A: Ah, I know what to do. I’ll go to the store and buy some Chung Cake, and when I get back to the studio we can enjoy the cake together. Sound good?
B: No, no, no. Stop joking! This year, we’re going to make Chung Cake on our own. And don’t worry. I’ve invited Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hue, who has experience making the cake, to tell us how to make the cake in the traditional way. I promise it will be an unforgettable experience.
A: Ok. Then let’s get started. I’m ready.
“It’s not easy to wrap a beautiful square Chung Cake. We need a square wooden mold to shape the cake. Dong leaves and Giang strings are soaked in salt water or stir-steamed so we can wrap the cake easier. The preferred pork is fatty one because its flavor goes well with the glutinous rice and green beans. Don’t season the pork with fish sauce if you want a good-quality cake. Also, the sticky rice and green beans must be the best quality, and should be carefully selected several weeks before Tet.”
A: In the past, all members of the family helped prepare the ingredients. Young people cleaned the Dong leaves while older people seasoned the pork and prepared the green beans and glutinous rice.
B: What a delightful scene! The ingredients for the cake are easy to buy, but the preparation and wrapping are not that simple. Let’s listen to some tips for correctly wrapping the cake.
“First, place the Giang strings and some layers of Dong leaves into the square mold. For the first layer, the dark side of the leaves face outside to give the cake a green package. For the last layer, the dark side of the leaves face the glutinous rice so that the rice can absorb the leaves’ green color. Stuff a layer of glutinous rice, followed by green beans, seasoned pork, then green beans again and finally another layer of rice. You should carefully place the ingredients so the fatty pork is in the center of the cake. Fold the leaves and tie them up with Giang strings.”
A: The cakes are now ready. Let’s hear Mrs. Hue explain the boiling process.
“Place the wrapped cakes in a large pot filled with water. Boiling takes ten to twelve hours, until the cakes are fully cooked inside and out. You need to keep an eye on the pot and add more water if necessary. In the past, adults and children sat together around the warm stove, exchanging stories and good wishes for the coming year.”
A: I have to confess that sitting in front of the stove or playing near the Chung Cake pot during cold winter weather was one of the most unforgettable moments of my childhood.
B: Oh, A. I still remember that when I was small, every time my grandmother made Chung cakes, she made some small ones just for me.
A: Me too. My mom made small cakes for me and my siblings. The cakes were tiny, with a triangle shape. Wow. We had to wait until midnight to eat the cakes. Those are memories we’ll never forget.

Young people cleaned the Dong leaves while older people seasoned the pork and prepared the green beans and glutinous rice. (Source: baomoi.com))

B: In some regions, people make other versions of Chung Cake, such as cylindrical cakes, humped Chung cakes wrapped in Chít leaves, sweetened Chung cakes-even vegetarian Chung cakes. The glutinous rice is sometimes mixed with Baby Jackfruit or Magenta leaves so the cakes acquire an attractive red or deep purple color.
A: The cake is served hot or cold with pickled vegetable, fish sauce, or soybean jam. It can even be fried to create a delicious chewy or crisp dish. The rich, fatty pork, the fragrant Dong leaves, and the glutinous rice blend into an unforgettable flavor.

The rich, fatty pork, the fragrant Dong leaves, and the glutinous rice blend into an unforgettable flavor. (Source:kienthuc.net))

B: In contrast to fast food, Chung cakes are time-consuming and require the contribution of many people, which enhances the family bond.
A: Wow, Tet is just around the corner and we are counting down the days. Try making your own Chung Cake. It will be an unforgettable experience for you and your family. Goodbye. We hope to see you again next time.