Coconut Candy: A Delicious Treat from Ben Tre
The Mekong Delta, where gentle rivers meander and renowned traditional craft villages thrive, always welcomes you with its unique specialties. Among them, Ben Tre’s coconut land stands out, capturing your heart with each square piece of coconut candy that melts in your mouth, exuding the essence of home. Join Deluxe Group Tours to explore an intriguing journey into Ben Tre coconut candy flavors, from its long-standing origins and meticulous production process to its irresistibly sweet taste.
1. The Delights of Coconut Candy
Coconut candy is a specialty of the coconut kingdom, Ben Tre, a gift that conveys the simple yet sincere sentiments of the local people.
Anyone trying this sweet candy for the first time will surely be captivated by its rich, sweet, and chewy flavor, reminiscent of the scenery and people of the coconut land.
Ben Tre coconut candy is tied to the childhood memories of many locals. Each piece of these candies recalls the old days; the scene where everyone would start picking coconuts, drying firewood, and buying sugar as Tet approached seems to appear in front of their eyes.
Although no one knows exactly when it originated, the soft, sweet, and rich flavor has become deeply ingrained in the memories and lives of the people here, becoming an indispensable part of significant occasions. It holds great meaning in the culture of the locals.
Coconut candy is also a meaningful souvenir for you when you visit Ben Tre. Each piece carries the sweet taste of the homeland, a token of gratitude from the people of Ben Tre for your visit and love for their land.
2. The Origin of Ben Tre Coconut Candy
For generations, the lush coconut groves have been a distinctive symbol of Ben Tre. Living under the coconut palms, the people of Ben Tre have ingeniously used local ingredients to create delicious dishes from coconuts. Among these, coconut candy, a renowned specialty, cannot go unmentioned. Originating from Mo Cay district, it was first created by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc and named Mo Cay Candy (named after the place where it was created).
The delicious candy at that time was used only as a gift for neighbors and relatives during festive days as a way to express goodwill and community spirit.
In 1970, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Vinh, born in 1945 and residing in Ben Tre, innovatively changed the processed of this specialty. She established the first coconut candy production facility, Keo Dua Thanh Long, in Ben Tre town, thereby creating the first brand for Ben Tre coconut candy, which became famous for its sweet, rich flavor and fragrant coconut aroma.
Currently, Ben Tre has over 180 production facilities, with an annual output reaching tens of thousands of tons. The villages specializing are mainly concentrated in Mo Cay Nam district, Mo Cay Bac district, Chau Thanh district, and Ben Tre City. One of the most famous craft villages is the coconut candy village in Ward 7 of Ben Tre City.
3. Traditional Methods in Coconut Candy Making
Making this candy is not difficult, and many places produce this sweet treat. However, achieving the distinctive flavor of Ben Tre coconut candy requires the unique techniques of the craft. This includes selecting the right ingredients and using secret methods passed down through generations. Therefore, the flavor and traditional making process of Ben Tre has a special allure that makes you fall in love with it after just one taste.
First, when choosing coconuts, the candy makers must select quality coconuts to grate for the coconut milk. The coconuts used for candy must be mature to ensure sweetness and richness. Young coconuts are usually bland and only suitable for drinking or making jam, not for candy. The malt is made from good glutinous rice. The sugar used for cooking candy must be jaggery for the best flavor.
In the past, all the ingredients were mixed in a large container, boiled, and then placed in jars to ferment. Nowadays, after preparing the ingredients, they are put into a pan, brought to a boil, and stirred using a machine attached to the pan. When the candy is ready, it is poured onto a tray coated with coconut oil to prevent sticking.
Craftsmen first use a plastic cloth coated with coconut oil to press the candy into molds. Once cool, they cut the candy into pieces, wrapping each piece individually before packaging them according to weight.
Each small piece of candy, despite its simplicity, embodies an entire art form that demands meticulousness, patience, skill, and the utmost attention to detail from the craftsmen. From selecting the raw materials to processing and packaging, every step requires dedication. That’s why each piece of Ben Tre coconut candy carries the heart and soul of the local people.
4. Exploring the Diverse Flavors of Coconut Candy
Ben Tre coconut candy has long been renowned for its sweet, rich, and fragrant coconut flavor, a specialty gift that reflects the lush coconut palms of the region. Today, this candy not only preserves its traditional flavors but also innovates with new and unique flavors such as coconut candy with durian, peanut, taro, and pandan leaf,… offering delightful flavor experiences.
4.1. Most Popular Flavors
Traditional coconut candy is a perfect choice if you prefer a mildly sweet and fragrant chewy treat. Made from fresh coconut milk, traditional flavor has a rich, unsatiated taste that is unmistakable with other tastes. When you bite into these pieces of candy, you’ll experience a harmonious blend of sweetness, aroma, and chewiness, creating a delightful culinary experience.
Coconut candy with peanuts incorporates whole peanuts for a crunchy texture, adding a rich, nutty flavor to each chewy bite. The balanced creaminess of coconut milk combined with peanuts and malt creates a chewy consistency. This flavor offers a unique and intense taste in each piece, making it more addictive as you eat.
Coconut candy with durian and peanuts is a sensory experience that tantalizes both taste and smell. It harmoniously blends the rich, fragrant coconut flavor with the sweet and strong smell of durian and the crunchy texture of peanuts. However, it can be quite challenging if you’re not fond of durian. But if you enjoy the distinctive taste of durian, this is the perfect flavor combination for you.
Coconut candy with cocoa brings the distinct aroma of cocoa along with its lightly bitter taste, blending harmoniously with the rich, sweet coconut milk to create a uniquely characteristic flavor. When you bite into a piece of coconut cocoa candy, you’ll experience the novelty of this combination. The subtle bitterness of cocoa complements rather than overwhelms the sweetness of coconut, striking a perfect balance that enhances the allure of this candy.
Coconut candy with pandan leaf is a unique blend of the rich sweetness of coconut and the intense fragrance of pandan leaf. These candies, often adorned with a hint of green and yellow stripes, are visually appealing and enticing. You’ll enjoy a refreshing and unforgettable flavor with the subtle aroma of pandan leaf infused throughout.
4.2. Others
Not only stop with classic flavors, the craftsman also renovates them with other fruits like taro and strawberries, creating new and delightful taste experiences.
Coconut candy with taro is a unique blend of the rich sweetness of coconut and the nutty, aromatic flavor of taro, melting in your mouth and leaving an unforgettable aftertaste. Strawberry coconut candy, with a filling made from fresh strawberries, offers a refreshing sweet and sour taste that awakens all your senses.
Not only that, but the colorful world of Ben Tre coconut candy also offers countless interesting flavors waiting for you to discover. Come here and find your favorite pieces of candy, creating beautiful memories of this charming region.
5. Unveiling the Best Places to Buy Coconut Candy
Visiting Ben Tre, you will easily come across traditional coconut candy workshops, where the sweet scent of candy lingers in the air. Whether you’re strolling through the bustling streets of the city or exploring the tranquil villages, the opportunity to savor the rich flavors of traditional coconut candy is always within reach.
Most notably, these workshops are not only reputable places to buy coconut candy with a long-standing traditional flavor but also offer special experiences for you to enjoy when you visit.
You will have the opportunity to participate in the unique experience of making coconut candy at the workshops. The craftsman will guide you through each step, from grating coconuts to cooking coconut milk, stirring the candy mixture, shaping it, and finally packaging the finished product. This is a fantastic chance to gain a deeper understanding of the traditional coconut candy production process while creating your own pieces of coconut candy imprinted with your personal touch.
To help you fully enjoy your journey exploring Ben Tre and its world of coconut candy, some tours combine visits to coconut candy workshops with famous local attractions. Joining these tours offers many benefits. They are not only reasonably priced and offer flexible scheduling, but they also handle every detail, including transportation and accommodation.
You can consider the Insight Mekong Delta-Ben Tre Tour. With this choice, you can feast your eyes on the stunning landscapes of the Mekong Delta, especially Ben Tre. Furthermore, you can enjoy exciting riverine experiences such as boat rides along the river, xe loi rides, tasting fresh local fruits, and rowing a sampan.
However, today you can still enjoy this special flavor even if you can’t visit Ben Tre, thanks to several reputable brands listed below.
Keo Dua Thanh Long
Thanh Long Coconut Candy, the first facility and leading brand in coconut candy production. With a passion for preserving the traditional flavors of their homeland, Thanh Long Coconut Candy continuously strives to bring high-quality and health-safe products to you.
This brand, despite its long-standing tradition, continually absorbs knowledge, focuses on automated production and packaging lines, improves packaging designs, and diversifies its products to offer you the most satisfying options. Moreover, it holds a Food Safety and Hygiene Certification from the Ministry of Health, ensuring product quality and peace of mind.
Thanh Long Coconut Candy carries the sweet and creamy flavor typical of its homeland, Ben Tre. Each piece of candy reflects meticulous craftsmanship, dedication, and a commitment to quality from skilled artisans.
Keo Dua Ben Tre Ba Hai To
For over four decades, the Ba Hai To brand has closely associated itself with the land of Ben Tre, establishing a position in consumers’ hearts with its distinctive, delicious flavor and commitment to product quality. With 30 years of rich experience, Ba Hai To continually strives to preserve the traditional coconut candy-making secrets while constantly innovating to bring new experiences to you.
The highlight of Ba Hai To Coconut Candy is its diverse product range. The brand offers various types of coconut candy, from traditional pieces to those with unique flavors such as durian, cocoa, taro, and more, catering to all your needs and preferences.
Each piece of Ba Hai To brand’s candy carries a sweet, rich flavor and a commitment to quality and food safety, ensuring your satisfaction.
Keo Dua Hong Van
Hong Van is indeed a well-known name among the top brands of coconut candy from Ben Tre. They have been specializing in producing this specialty gift for many years, expanding their scale and diversifying the flavors of this candy while ensuring the quality remains exceptional, delivering a product that is fragrant, delicious, and irresistible to you.
The process of making this specialty candy at the Hong Van production facility is a seamless blend of manual and automated techniques, aimed at delivering products with unique flavors and attractive packaging. Particularly, the coconut candy here retains the traditional flavor of Ben Tre coconut candy. Therefore, you don’t need to go far to buy the exact coconut candy you love.
With my sharing about coconut candy above, I hope you can taste the soul of this humble yet heartfelt gift. Careful packaging protects the candies like a testament to the sacrifices made by the people of Ben Tre in preserving their traditional craft. Enjoying Ben Tre coconut candy is like stepping into a world of sweetness and elegance, experiencing the rich coconut flavor blended with the sweetness of malt in each tender piece of coconut candy. Each piece melts in your mouth, leaving a lingering taste that makes you fondly remember the gentle and rustic land of Ben Tre.