In the days before Tet, Tien Ky banana market (Tien Phuoc district) is bustling. People are excitedly shopping for Tet by buying banana bunches for offerings, banana stalks to eat, and banana leaves to wrap cakes. From around the 24th to the 27th (lunar calendar) is the golden time to "hunt" for banana leaves.
Selling banana leaves at Tien Ky banana market for more than ten years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le (An Son ward, Tam Ky city) shared: “Every year at this time, the banana market is bustling. Sellers from all over Tien Phuoc such as Tien Hiep, Tien Son, Tien Lanh, Tien Canh, Tien Chau or Tra My... flock to the banana market to supply leaves. Wholesalers and retailers from Tam Ky city and Da Nang city also come to this banana market to buy leaves. But this year there are fewer customers, much less than in previous years.”
Providing 1-2 quintals of banana leaves every day to wrap the cakes, Ms. Le said that people are making and eating less cakes due to economic difficulties. Sellers have also reduced their income somewhat because the income from banana leaves is not high and unstable, and they are mainly sold in the last few days of the year. Ms. Le plans to lower the price.
Similarly, Ms. Tran Thi No (Hoa Huong Ward, Tam Ky City) who has been selling banana leaves at Tien Ky banana market for nearly 30 years also complained: “Although it looks so busy, this year the banana leaf market is quite unstable. Although the price of banana leaves has not changed, there are significantly fewer people ordering leaves. The weather this year is “not favorable”, so the banana leaves are also damaged a lot.”
According to banana leaf sellers, the price ranges from 12,000 - 20,000 VND/kg (depending on customer requirements). But when the bananas are growing, the prolonged hot sun causes the leaves to dry out severely. By the end of the year, the cold rains continue, making it impossible to save the banana leaves. Therefore, the quantity and quality of banana leaves used to wrap cakes and make spring rolls are both reduced and poor.
[VIDEO] - Banana leaf market during Tet
Coming to the vast banana garden of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy Kieu (Tien Canh commune), the state of banana leaves is clearly visible on each leaf. “At first, the banana leaves were often dry and burnt, and at the end of the year, the continuous rain and wind tore the leaves. The income is less, but it is better than nothing. In addition to the income from banana leaves, banana stems also provide income at a stable price, enough money to buy Tet goods,” said Mrs. Kieu.
Meanwhile, in the banana gardens scattered throughout the green forest of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hien (Tien Lanh commune), it was also harvest season. Four members of Mrs. Hien's family picked leaves together, cut each banana leaf, and then gathered them to bring to the town market to sell.
“I take advantage of the time when people are wrapping cakes and spring rolls to pick leaves to sell. Every year, my family earns nearly ten million VND from banana leaves. But this year, it will probably be only a few million VND because the leaves are damaged a lot. I hope that next year, the weather will be favorable, and the weather will be good so that not only the banana leaves but also the fruit trees in the house will sprout and grow well,” said Ms. Hien.
Many Tet seasons have come and gone, but nothing can replace the distinctive scent of banana leaves mixed with new sticky rice, green beans, fatty meat… and after more than ten hours of flickering on the fire, it creates a love full of Tet scent. Banana leaves, although not rare or “luxurious”, are a taste of home, a source of income for many households at the end of the year. Now, another banana leaf season has begun…
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/tien-phuoc-mua-la-chuoi-3148275.html
Comment (0)