A special thing about the business trip to learn about Phu Quoc fish sauce (An Giang province) was that we saw with our own eyes the tools containing this famous specialty in the past.
Mr. Ha Tan Tai (owner of Dai Duc fish sauce bar, Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang Province), who specializes in searching and collecting tools containing Phu Quoc fish sauce - said that before containing fish sauce in glass bottles or plastic bottles as at present, people often used containers called banks. Up to now, Mr. Tai has owned more than 40 boxes of fish sauce of all kinds.
According to Mr. Tai, in the early stages of commercial services, people used to contain fish sauce in a tray made from fired clay. If the fish sauce is delicious and stored in a tray, the longer it is left, the more delicious it will be, and the color will be very special. The footrest is often somewhat bulging out to use a rope to wrap tightly, avoiding pouring water out.
Also with a large bulge in the middle, which can be stacked on top of each other, people often place 2-3 layers of fish sauce on the boat when transporting it for sale in the South. Thanks to that, so many delicious fish sauce trays and fish sauce are available to consumers, serving meals.
However, fish sauce is usually stored in a tray of baked soil for a long time and is often mixed with a lot of dust, so fish sauce must be filtered before eating to be used.
Later, to ensure both hygiene and safety and to create more beautiful designs, people switched to using fermented rice husks to contain fish sauce. Unlike the type made from terracotta, the shape of the encrusted bamboo rat has 4 points near the bamboo rat's mouth to peel the rope, people also often use a button to close the mouth tightly.
The owner of Dai Duc fish sauce bar informed that in addition to preserving and developing traditional crafts, learning about the history of Phu Quoc fish sauce in general, as well as collecting fish sauce it in particular, is a way for him to remember the hard work of his predecessors. This is also a valuable treasure trove for the younger generation who love history and culture to explore, explore and research.
"The cars I own also contain many meaningful stories about Phu Quoc, so this journey will continue with passion and love for my homeland" - Mr. Tai said with a smile.
Phu Quoc fish sauce making profession has been formed for more than 200 years on the pearl island with fish sauce production processes such as: The fish is caught with salt right on the boat, brought to the owner in a special natural wooden box, for a period of 12 - 15 months, then the fish sauce is finished.
In December 2022, Phu Quoc fish sauce making craft was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Currently, the traditional Phu Quoc fish sauce craft has gradually shifted towards large-scale, modern production to increase output to meet the requirements of export product quality, but is still traditional, unique and an industry that contributes significantly to Phu Quoc's economic development.
