Hue, the ancient capital, serene and poetic, is not only famous for its ancient architectural works and majestic tombs but also captivates visitors with its refined and diverse cuisine. Among the countless delicacies of Hue, sweet soups (chè) hold a special place, serving as sweet, refreshing treats imbued with the culture and history of this land. Let’s explore the world of traditional Hue sweet soups to fully appreciate the sweet flavors and unique culinary culture of the ancient capital.
Pork Belly Sweet Soup (Chè Bột Lọc Heo Quay): A Unique Sweet and Savory Fusion
When it comes to Hue sweet soup, one cannot miss the renowned pork belly sweet soup (chè bột lọc heo quay), a bold and surprising combination of sweet and savory flavors. This dish impresses not only with its unusual name but also conquers diners with its unique and unmistakable taste.
Pork belly sweet soup is made from seemingly unrelated ingredients: tapioca starch and roasted pork belly. Tapioca starch is kneaded into clear, chewy tapioca dumplings, encasing crispy, flavorful roasted pork belly. When thưởng thức (enjoying), you’ll experience a wonderful harmony between the mild sweetness of sugar water, the pungent warmth of ginger, the richness of coconut milk, and especially the savory, delicious taste of roasted pork belly. This intriguing contrast creates a culinary experience that is both stimulating and unforgettable.
This sweet soup is not just a simple snack but also a symbol of creativity and sophistication in Hue cuisine. It showcases the chef’s skill in combining seemingly opposite ingredients to create a harmonious, unique, and captivating dish.
A famous specialty of Hue, pork belly sweet soup
Imperial Lotus Seed Sweet Soup (Chè Đậu Ngự): A Refined Royal Flavor
Imperial lotus seed sweet soup (chè đậu ngự) is one of the Hue sweet soups that bears a strong royal imprint, once served to the emperors. Today, this sweet soup still holds a special place in the hearts of Hue people, often appearing on important holidays, weddings, or used to entertain distinguished guests.
The main ingredient of imperial lotus seed sweet soup is imperial lotus seed, a type of bean with large, ivory-white seeds and a distinctively buttery taste. The lotus seeds are simmered until soft, keeping their shape, combined with rock sugar for sweetness and the subtle fragrance of pandan leaves. To enhance its appeal, Hue people often garnish the bowl of sweet soup with a few white jasmine or pomelo blossoms, creating a refined and delicate beauty.
Imperial lotus seed sweet soup is not only delicious but also highly nutritious and good for health. This sweet soup offers a sweet, refreshing, and mild flavor, perfect for enjoying on hot summer days or after a main meal. Savoring imperial lotus seed sweet soup, you will feel the sophistication and elegance of Hue’s imperial cuisine.
Corn Sweet Soup (Chè Bắp): A Simple Yet Sweet Hometown Flavor
Corn sweet soup (chè bắp) is a familiar, rustic traditional Hue sweet soup, associated with the childhood of many Hue natives. This sweet soup is made from simple, readily available ingredients, yet it delivers an irresistible sweet and fragrant flavor.
The main ingredient of corn sweet soup is fresh corn, thinly shaved or pureed, cooked with tapioca starch, sugar, and coconut milk. The soft, sweet corn kernels, combined with the richness of coconut milk and the smooth texture of tapioca starch, create a delicious and nutritious sweet soup.
Corn sweet soup is not only a great thirst quencher on hot summer days but also a favorite snack for many. The sweet, simple flavor of corn sweet soup evokes childhood memories, hometown, and family.
Purple Yam Sweet Soup (Chè Khoai Tía): Dreamy Purple Color, Rich Flavor
Hue purple yam sweet soup impresses with its distinctive, beautiful purple color, reminiscent of the dreamy, romantic beauty of the ancient capital. This sweet soup not only has an appealing color but also a rich, delicious flavor, conquering even the most discerning palates.
Purple yam is the main ingredient that creates the color and special flavor of this sweet soup. Purple yam is boiled, mashed, then cooked with sugar, coconut milk, and a little sago. The harmonious combination of the sweetness of sugar, the richness of coconut milk, and the buttery, fragrant taste of purple yam creates a captivating and unforgettable sweet soup.
Purple yam sweet soup is not only a popular snack but also a common dessert at parties and weddings in Hue. The romantic purple color of purple yam sweet soup is also often associated with fidelity and steadfastness in love.
Green Bean Sweet Soup with Tangerine Peel (Chè Lục Tàu Xá): Refreshing, Cooling Flavor
Green bean sweet soup with tangerine peel (chè lục tàu xá) is a Hue sweet soup originating from Guangdong (China), introduced to Hue and transformed by locals, creating a distinct flavor. “Lục tàu xá,” in Cantonese, means mashed green beans.
The main ingredients of green bean sweet soup with tangerine peel are green beans, sago, tangerine peel (dried tangerine peel), and granulated sugar. Green beans are cooked until tender, sago is boiled until soft, and tangerine peel provides a distinctive aroma. This sweet soup has a mild sweetness from sugar, a buttery taste from green beans, combined with a slight spiciness and intense aroma of tangerine peel, creating a unique and novel flavor.
Green bean sweet soup with tangerine peel is not only a thirst quencher but also known for its cooling and detoxifying properties, very good for health. This sweet soup is usually enjoyed cold, especially suitable for hot summer days.
Jelly Sweet Soup (Chè Thạch): Diverse Flavors, Cool and Refreshing
Jelly sweet soup (chè thạch) is an incredibly diverse and rich Hue sweet soup in types, catering to the preferences of many diners. You can enjoy rich coconut milk jelly sweet soup, refreshing black jelly sweet soup, fresh fruit jelly sweet soup, or chewy agar jelly sweet soup.
Jelly is made from various ingredients such as agar, black jelly, or other types of powders, creating diversity in color, shape, and flavor. Jelly sweet soup is often combined with sugar water, coconut milk, fresh fruit, or beans, creating delicious, cool, and refreshing sweet soups.
Jelly sweet soup is a great choice for cooling down on hot summer days. The sweet, refreshing flavor of jelly sweet soup will help you feel relaxed and energized to continue your journey of exploring the ancient capital of Hue.
Lotus Seed Sweet Soup with Longan (Chè Hạt Sen Bọc Nhãn Lồng): A Refined, Classy Combination
Lotus seed sweet soup with longan (chè hạt sen bọc nhãn lồng) is one of the famous Hue specialties, showcasing the refinement and skill in imperial cuisine. This sweet soup is elaborately and meticulously prepared, from the selection of ingredients to the cooking method.
The main ingredients of lotus seed sweet soup with longan are fresh lotus seeds and longans. Lotus seeds are boiled until just cooked, maintaining their buttery, soft texture, then skillfully “wrapped” inside a longan fruit that has been pitted. The combination of buttery lotus seeds and sweet longans creates a unique and appealing flavor.
Rock sugar water is cooked just sweet enough, mild, not too cloying, to enhance the natural flavor of lotus seeds and longans. Lotus seed sweet soup with longan is usually enjoyed cold, bringing a feeling of refinement, lightness, and coolness. This sweet soup is not only a delicious dish but also a culinary artwork, showcasing the class and sophistication of Hue cuisine.
Green Bean Sweet Soup (Chè Đậu Xanh): Rustic Yet Familiar, Refreshing
Green bean sweet soup (chè đậu xanh) is a rustic, familiar Hue sweet soup, present everywhere, from street food stalls to luxury restaurants. This sweet soup is loved for its refreshing, mild flavor, easy to eat, and suitable for many palates.
Rustic and refreshing green bean sweet soup
There are two popular types of green bean sweet soup: whole green bean sweet soup and mashed green bean sweet soup. Both types are cooked from green beans, sugar, and water. To enhance the richness, coconut milk is often added when thưởng thức (enjoying).
Green bean sweet soup is not only a thirst quencher but also a nutritious and healthy dish. This sweet soup is often enjoyed in the summer, helping to cool down, detoxify, and bring a comfortable feeling.
Rainbow Sweet Soup (Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu): Eye-Catching Colors, Unique Flavor
Rainbow sweet soup (chè sương sa hạt lựu) is a Hue sweet soup that is attractive with its eye-catching colors and unique flavor. This sweet soup is a harmonious combination of many different ingredients, creating an overall dish that is both beautiful and delicious.
The highlight of rainbow sweet soup is the “pomegranate seeds” made from tapioca starch, dyed pinkish-red, looking very much like real pomegranate seeds. In addition, this sweet soup also includes agar jelly, water chestnuts, various types of jelly, coconut milk, and sugar water. The combination of bright colors and sweet, rich, and refreshing flavors creates a very appealing sweet soup, especially for children.
Rainbow sweet soup is not only a thirst quencher but also a popular dessert during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). The bright colors of the sweet soup also symbolize luck and auspiciousness.
Colorful rainbow sweet soup, both beautiful and delicious
Black Bean Sweet Soup (Chè Đậu Đen): Warm, Nutritious, Familiar Flavor
Black bean sweet soup (chè đậu đen) is a familiar traditional Hue sweet soup, popular in Vietnamese cuisine in general. Black beans are a nutritious grain, with many health benefits. Black bean sweet soup is not only a delicious dish but also a nutritious dish, loved by many.
Black beans are carefully selected, soaked until softened, cooked until tender, then combined with sugar and a little salt to create a sweet and rich flavor. When thưởng thức (enjoying) black bean sweet soup, people often add rich coconut milk to enhance the appealing flavor.
Black bean sweet soup can be enjoyed hot or cold, depending on preference. This sweet soup is a perfect choice for chilly days or hot summer days. The warm, sweet flavor of black bean sweet soup brings a comfortable, relaxing feeling and replenishes energy for the body.
Conclusion
The world of traditional Hue sweet soups is extremely rich and diverse, each sweet soup carrying its own unique flavor, showcasing the sophistication, skill, and creativity in the cuisine of the ancient capital’s people. From elaborate and luxurious imperial sweet soups to rustic and familiar sweet soups, all contribute to creating the unique and attractive culinary culture of Hue. If you have the opportunity to visit Hue, don’t forget to thưởng thức (enjoy) Hue sweet soups to fully appreciate the sweet flavors and discover the cultural stories hidden in each delicious bowl of sweet soup. Surely, this culinary experience will leave you with unforgettable impressions of the dreamy ancient capital.