(Dan Tri) - A-yoh is a traditional cake that is indispensable during Tet of the Van Kieu people in the highlands of Quang Tri. The cake is made from sticky rice, black sesame and salt with a unique flavor, used to treat distinguished guests.
When the early spring rains begin to fall, the forest trees begin to sprout and grow in the Truong Son mountains, and the Van Kieu people in Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, immerse themselves in the atmosphere of celebrating the traditional New Year.
In the late afternoon of the year, the Van Kieu villages are bustling with the sound of pounding sticky rice to make cakes, the sound of people calling each other to slaughter pigs and chickens, perform ceremonies to worship ancestors and gods, and join in community spring activities.
Besides traditional dishes, the Van Kieu people also have an indispensable cake every Tet holiday called A-yoh (sticky rice cake).
Ayoh cake is black, round, 50cm in diameter, 5cm thick, and has the aroma of sesame and sticky rice (Photo: Duc Tai).
Village elder Ho Van Dang (64 years old), residing in Ta Puong village, Trang Ta Puong hamlet, Huong Viet commune, Huong Hoa district, said that according to the customs and practices of the Van Kieu people, on the ancestral altar on every wedding and Tet holiday, there must be A-yoh cake. The cake symbolizes good things, loyalty, steadfastness and affection.
In the past, the Van Kieu people believed that only gods could enjoy Ayoh cakes, but later on, they used Ayoh cakes more often during Tet, weddings, festivals and to entertain distinguished guests.
"For us Van Kieu people, the cake is the pearl of the sun, a spiritual symbol of the moon, the sun and the earth. Anyone who is invited is very happy and sacred. Inviting guests to eat the cake on New Year's Day is like enjoying the blessings of heaven and earth," village elder Dang explained.
Van Kieu women in Trang Ta Puong village, Huong Viet commune, Huong Hoa district make Ayoh cakes on the occasion of Tet At Ty 2025 (Photo: Ho Gioi).
Sharing about how to make Ayoh cake, Ms. Ho Thi Pia (29 years old), living in Trang Ta Puong village, said that to make delicious cake, you need to choose standard sticky rice, grown in terraced fields, and the sticky rice must still have whole grains.
After washing, the sticky rice is cooked. Once cooked, the sticky rice is placed in a large mortar and pounded with black sesame and salt. This step is very important and must be done carefully and correctly. If not pounded enough, the cake will still have seeds and will feel hard when eaten. If pounded too finely, the cake will be dry and lose the sesame and sticky rice flavor.
The mixture of sticky rice, black sesame and salt after being pounded is poured onto a tray, kneaded into a circle about 50cm in diameter and 5cm thick. At this time, the A-yoh cake gradually takes shape, has a black color and a characteristic aroma from sesame and sticky rice.
"This Tet, my family made 2 Ayoh cakes to offer to guests. Ayoh cakes are like the heart, the connection between people, between people and gods and heaven and earth. Without Ayoh cakes on the offering tray of the Van Kieu people, it is like the Kinh people lack Tet Chung cakes," Ms. Pia shared.
Ayoh cake is always available on Tet, festivals, and weddings. Van Kieu people use it to treat distinguished guests (Photo: Duc Tai).
Mr. Ho Van Sinh, Chairman of Huong Viet Commune People's Committee, said that besides traditional dishes, Van Kieu people also have many customs and unique cultural features such as new rice celebration, forest worship... Through the changes of history, those cultural features have always been preserved and promoted by the people.
"With Ayoh cakes, to prevent them from fading away, every time Tet comes, Spring comes, we encourage people to make more, and teach them to family members and villagers. Over the years, the lives of the Van Kieu people in the locality have improved significantly, bad customs have been pushed back, and the lives of the villagers have become more and more prosperous," said Mr. Sinh.
Tet is the beginning of Spring, the season of blooming flowers and animals calling for friends. This is also the occasion for Van Kieu people to gather together, enjoy traditional dishes, immerse themselves in the melodies of the mountains and forests, and look forward to a better future.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/tet-2025/loai-banh-khong-the-thieu-dip-tet-cua-nguoi-van-kieu-dung-de-dai-khach-quy-20250124075622463.htm
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