There is a traditional Hue local food that honeymooner should taste: Bánh Xu Xê or Phu Thê (as literally Husband and wife cake). This is an integral offering of Hue traditional engagement and wedding because it represents for Happiness of Husband and Wife. Let’s discover the story of this meaningful specialty.
Xu Xê cake – a childhood gift
When I was little, my father often gave me a Xu Xê whenever he came back from a wedding. This is the traditional offer in any banquet of the party, but he knew that I like this sweet cake so he kept it for me. This Hue local food is usually square or hexagon-shaped, the bright green color, fits in the palm of my hand. It is wrapped in boxes made of coconut leaves, with yellow mung bean, coconut, and carrot filling. When I took a bite, it is so perfect combination of the chewiness of the skin, the crunchiness of the coconut, and the richness of the mung bean filling, simple yet magically delicious.
Why do people call it Husband and Wife cake?
The story of the origin of this cake has some variations. The most typical one is about a couple of King Ly Anh Tong and his wife – from the Northern part of Vietnam. The legend has it that when King Ly Anh Tong had to come to the battle. The Queen stayed at home and thought about her husband a lot. She decided to make a type of cake that brought her heart to her beloved husband. The cake is sweet, has two parts: tapioca outside and sweeten mixture inside. The King ate this cake and he felt the love of his wife. Thus, he decided to maintain this special cake and approve it as a traditional cake for the wedding. For Hue people, this specialty also brings a Fengshui philosophy. The white soft filling symbolizes Yin (the wife) and the firm coconut box outside symbolizes Yan (the Husband). This is the perfect harmony to imply for Happiness.
From a Northern dish to a distinct Hue local food
As said, Phu Thê cake originates from the Northern part of Vietnam. It has round-shaped, yellow-colored, sesame on the surface, covered by a red or yellow transparent paper sheet. Meanwhile, Xu Xê cakes in Hue are simple but elegant, close with local life. Hue handicraftsmen put a piece of pandan leaves inside to make the fragrant and cover it by a graceful coconut box. Hue husband and wife cakes are close to local people. Coconut leaves wrapper is a close ingredient, popular in Vietnam countryside and brings out Vietnam traditional values. Phu The cake from Hue is a square-shaped, fresh green that symbolizes the fulfillment and happiness of all couples. Traditionally, Banh Xu Xe is very essential in the wedding or engaging offering of Hue people. The couples need to have 105 Husband and Wife cakes, for Vietnamese translating: Trăm Năm Hạnh Phúc or A hundred years of Happiness.
How Hue people make Husband and Wife cake?
This Hue local food has two parts: the filling & the dough. You need to prepare some following ingredients: tapioca flour, sugar, coconut flesh, mung bean.
Cake filling: rinse the mung bean well; soak them in six or eight hours until they are double in size. Steam the bean, mash, and mix in sugar, coconut flake, and cooking oil. Stir the mixture till the filling to be soft then you can divide the mixture into many small round balls. Dough wrapper: mix tapioca flour with water and sugar then heat on medium heat. Stir constantly until the dough is thicker. For covering, Hue people use coconut leaves to wrap, so as to keep the natural flavor of the cake. Take a little dough to fill in the coconut leaf box and put the mung bean ball inside. Covering the cake by a little bit of tapioca paste on over and wrap by the coconut box. Finally, steam the cake for about 15 minutes and get a delicious local dish.
Above is the summary way to make this Hue local food. If it sounds interesting to you, let join our cycling tour Kim Long green treasures in Kim Long village. We will let you call by some handicraft shops, see the local craftsmen make this, and get some as gifts. It may be a note for your honeymoon trip.
