The aroma of custard apple, the taste of home.

As February arrives, the landscape of Tay Ninh transforms under the dry, crisp sunlight, but this doesn't diminish the vitality of the custard apple orchards. Across the vast fields, the custard apple trees stand tall with vibrant green leaves and lush branches, awaiting the ripening season. Tay Ninh – a land of year-round wind and scorching sun – has embraced this humble yet iconic local agricultural product.

Custard apple from Tay Ninh. Photo: Huynh Dong

Tay Ninh has long been famous for its custard apple variety, known for its firm flesh, large size, thick pulp, and sweet, refreshing taste. Even in a place where nature isn't particularly kind in terms of climate, the custard apple trees still take root deep in the soil, stretching towards the sun each season to bear fruit.

The people of Tay Ninh love this land as much as they love the custard apple tree, because it embodies the resilience and hard work of the people here. The custard apple tree grows with diligence, requiring much care from flowering to when the fruit is ready for harvest. More than anyone else , the farmers understand that a successful harvest is the result of a meticulous and careful process.

Custard apple trees don't like too much water; unseasonal rains can cause the fruit's skin to crack, affecting its quality. Therefore, from the time the fruit is young, growers must pay attention, prune branches, and inspect each fruit to select the healthiest ones to nurture. Farmers can recognize even small signs on the tree, from slightly wilted leaves to blemishes on the fruit's skin, and adjust the care regimen accordingly.

For farmers, every day spent in the orchard is a day of dedicated work. Touching each leaf, watching each young fruit grow, they eagerly await the day the custard apples ripen—the day when smiles will brighten their sun-tanned faces.

Custard apples from Tay Ninh possess a simple yet unique flavor unlike anywhere else. Their sweet, slightly sour taste and distinctive aroma are unforgettable for anyone who has tasted them. From custard apples , the people of Tay Ninh also create many delicious and rustic dishes . A glass of cool , fragrant custard apple smoothie on a sunny southern day , or simply eating them fresh to savor the sweet taste on your tongue . Custard apples are also dried, made into jam, and used in ice cream, becoming simple yet meaningful gifts from the countryside.

Moreover, custard apples from Tay Ninh are a source of livelihood for countless families. Thanks to custard apple trees, many farming households have escaped poverty and achieved more stable lives. During bumper custard apple harvests, farmers are overjoyed. Happy because the produce is plentiful, and happy because the pride of their homeland can reach far and wide, carrying its sweet and rich flavor to more and more people everywhere.

No matter how much times change, the custard apple tree remains firmly rooted in the land, always a source of pride for the people of Tay Ninh. Today, thanks to advanced farming techniques, custard apples are not only consumed domestically but also exported to many other countries. But no matter where they are, no matter how their farming methods change, the people of Tay Ninh still maintain their heartfelt devotion to their local fruit.

There are people who have dedicated their entire lives to custard apple orchards; their hair has turned gray, but their hands still nimbly tend to the trees, and their eyes still sparkle with joy when they see the plump, ripe fruit. There are those who have left their hometowns, and whenever they miss their homeland, they immediately think of the sweet, delicious custard apple, as if remembering their childhood spent playing around their parents' orchards.

February has passed, and the custard apple orchards remain lush and green. The people of Tay Ninh continue to work diligently, nurturing each branch and young fruit as if cherishing their own dreams. Looking at the orchards, they see not only the sweet fruit but also the beauty of their homeland – simple yet enduring, rustic yet full of love.

Duc Anh

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/huong-mang-cau-vi-que-huong-a186184.html