Sesame and areca sweets have long been loved as a specialty of Huế

Despite the offer nowadays of countless colourful and fragrant sweets, available in all kinds of markets, Huế people, particularly youngsters will never forget its light tasty sweet as it gradually dissolves in the mouth.

Mè xửng (sesame) and kẹo cau (areca) sweets have for a long time been a cultural icon of the ancient capital of Huế in the central region, said local Hoàng Thị Huệ, who has been making the treats for several decades.

These small but delicious specialties, with a unique flavour, have put Huế on the culinary map of Việt Nam, she said, adding that it is not just local residents who love them, but also visitors including foreign guests to Huế.

Ingredients include sesame, sugar, dry rice wafer, malt, peanut and lemon juice. There are two sorts of mè xửng. They include popular three-cm thick chewy mè xửng which is cut into square pieces. It has nutty taste from the roasted peanut and sesame, while mirror mè xửng has a thin light yellow colour and is transparent and shiny like a mirror from thin molasses with roasted sesame and peanut in between. It is crispy, tasty and fragrant from these ingredients along with a hint of ginger, Huệ said, noting that guests should choose transparent light yellow and chewy piece.

In the past middle-aged people often drank tea soaked in lotus flowers with mè xửng while reading a book or relaxing as part of a ritual to enjoy, Huệ said.

Owner of mè xửng sweet maker Thiên Hương Co. Hồ Thị Hoa, said the specialty has been created with a secret recipe and is a quintessential taste. Apart from producing traditional chewy items Thiên Hương Co. produces unique crispy candy which is less sweet and less chewy than the Huế sesame candy, meeting increasing demand for slightly less sugary treats.

“Our company has been developed based on our family’s traditional job since 1940. We aim to to produce the highest quality items by choosing organic and clean materials so as to keep this in Huế’s culinary soul,” said Hoa.

Kẹo cau (areca sweet), is a favourite snack of Huế and is beloved by many.

Despite the offer nowadays of countless colourful and fragrant sweets, available in all kinds of markets, Huế people, particularly youngsters will never forget its light tasty sweet as it gradually dissolves in the mouth.

“The flavour of areca candy follows us from our childhood. We all were waiting for our mothers coming home from the market to bring us pieces of this sweet to chew and share with friends, ”said local Nguyễn Hữu Chiến.

It is called kẹo cau because its form looks like a cut piece of areca with two colours, the light yellow of its middle made of sugarcane and the white colour cover made of sticky rice powder, Chiến said: “All visitors and guests to Huế are interested in buying kẹo cau and mè xửng specialties as gifts to bring home or to send them to their relatives abroad.”

Last year Huế’s mè xửng was recognised as one of the top ten taste specialties by the Asian Record Organisation.

* Mè xửng Thiên Hương, at 20 Chi Lăng Road. Tel: 039.442.9259.

* Mè xửng Nam Thuận: Shop No. 1 at 201 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng; Shop No. 2 at 2 Mai Thúc Loan, Phú Hòa Ward. Tel: 0234 3534 068.

* Mè xửng Tài Ký : 49 Ngô Thì Nhậm Street. Tel: 0234 3511 246.

At the shop, guests will have a chance to witness and take part in sweet making. Tài Ký sesame has been distributed to markets and surrounding provinces at an affordable price.

* Other famous sesame sweet shops include: Mè xửng Thành Hưng at 55 Hoàng Diệu Street; Mè xửng Sông Hương at 33 Đường Xuân 68, Phú Hậu Ward; Quý Thạnh at 148 Mai Thúc Loan and Hiền Ký at O4 Nhật Lệ Road, Thuận Thành Ward; Thuận Hưng shop at 147 Chi Lăng Road, Phú Cát Ward; Cát Tường shop at 212B Đặng Tất Street, Hương Trà Ward and famous big markets such as Đông Ba, Bến Ngự and An Cựu.